The Dodgers do poorly against lefties. Gio Gonzalez is a lefty. The Dodgers are giving Josh Reddick and Chase Utley a seat today, but there are still three lefties in the lineup. But really, what are you gonna do? Sit the unanimous rookie of the year, your best power bat over the past five seasons and your starting center fielder?
Actually, some have argued that maybe at least one of them should sit down. Jay Jaffe of Sports Illustrated, for example, says that Adrian Gonzalez should be saved until the Dodgers get into the Nats’ bullpen and, instead, Yasmani Grandal should play first and Carlos Ruiz -- who has had some success against Gonzalez -- should catch. Eh, it’s a thought, but it would take a LOT of guts to do that, as Jaffe himself notes. I feel like I’d use the same lineup that Roberts is using here.
Anyway, here are the Nationals:
1. Trea Turner (R) CF
2. Jayson Werth (R) LF
3. Daniel Murphy (L) 2B
4. Bryce Harper (L) RF
5. Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
6. Ryan Zimmerman (R) 1B
7. Danny Espinosa (S) SS
8. Jose Lobaton (S) C
9. Gio Gonzalez (R) P
And here are the Dodgers:
1. Howie Kendrick (R) LF
2. Justin Turner (R) 3B
3. Corey Seager (L) SS
4. Yasiel Puig (R) RF
5. Adrian Gonzalez (L) 1B
6. Yasmani Grandal (S) C
7. Charlie Culberson (R) 2B
8. Joc Pederson (L) CF
9. Kenta Maeda (R) P