The Nationals may be facing the only team in the major leagues with a batting average worse than their own, but the Padres play their home games in cavernous Petco Park. Their road batting average is a respectable .265 (third base in the National League) and they hit just .199 at home.
It’ll be John Lannan’s job tonight to make the Padres feel right at home — pun intended — while the Nationals deal with left-hander Clayton Richard. Because Richard is a lefty, the Nationals are once again going with a lineup that includes Brian Bixler in left field.
Here are the Nationals career numbers against Richard, including good numbers for both Michael Morse and Ian Desmond, albeit limited sample sizes:
Roger Bernadina: Never faced
Ian Desmond: 3-for-6 (.500), 2 HR, 2 RBI
Jayson Werth: 0-for-2, 1 BB
Michael Morse: 2-for-3 (.667), 2 RBI, 1 K
Wilson Ramos: Never faced
Danny Espinosa: Never faced
Jerry Hairston Jr.: 0-for-1, 1 BB
Brian Bixler: 1-for-2 (.500)
John Lannan: 0-for-2
Others:
Alex Cora: 0-for-6, 1 BB, 2 K
Ivan Rodriguez: 2-for-5 (.400), 1 RBI, 1 K
Rick Ankiel: 1-for-2 (.500), 1 K
