Anthony Rendon is out of the Washington Nationals’ Opening Day lineup because of a calf bruise suffered last week when he fouled a ball off it.
Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Rendon wanted to play today, but that he chose to sit him Monday, with a day off coming Tuesday, to give him the extra days to heal. He could pinch-hit in the game.
Stephen Drew is in Rendon’s spot at third base and hitting seventh. Because there is a right-hander on the mound, and no left-handers in the Miami bullpen, Baker has stacked three consecutive left-handers near the top of the lineup. Here’s a look at how it shakes out on the first day against the Marlins’ Edinson Volquez:
SS Trea Turner
CF Adam Eaton (L)
RF Bryce Harper (L)
2B Daniel Murphy (L)
1B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Jayson Werth
3B Stephen Drew (L)
C Matt Wieters (S)
RHP Stephen Strasburg
Baker, who is not interested in discussing his lineups, explained today’s setup this way:
“I settled upon this one because no Anthony, No. 1,” Baker said. “Murphy hasn’t had many at-bats. He’s behind. Originally, I had him in front of Bryce. Now I have him in front of Zim, because Zim has been swinging a pretty good bat. Eaton at the top of the lineup because they don’t have a left-hander out in the bullpen — unless they go with [Adam] Conley. Depending on who is pitching against us, Volquez is tougher on righties. He’s almost equal, but he gives up more homers to lefties. You weigh all these things, especially no left-handers in the bullpen.”
And, here is what the Marlins will counter Strasburg with:
2B Dee Gordon (L)
C J.T. Realmuto
CF Christian Yelich (L)
RF Giancarlo Stanton
1B Justin Bour (L)
LF Marcell Ozuna
3B Derek Dietrich (L)
SS Adeiny Hechavarria
RHP Volquez
Please read our comment policy before commenting.