NATS GAME NIGHT, GAME 47*: Nats at Mets--Starting Lineups

The Washington Nationals get back to baseball, trying to salvage the finale of a three-game series with the New York Mets.

It's a daunting task enough having to face Johan Santana, but the Nats find themselves in the midst of a mini-batting slump. Reverse lock, anyone?

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (13-32-1, 5th in NL East--12.5 games back; two-game loss streak)

Guzman -- 6
Johnson -- 3
Zimmerman -- 5
Dunn -- 9
Willingham -- 7
Belliard -- 4
Maxwell -- 8
Nieves -- 2
Zimmermann -- 1

NEW YORK METS (25-20, 2nd in NL East--.5 games back; to-game win streak)

Pagan -- 8
Castillo -- 4
Wright -- 5
Sheffield -- 7
Murphy -- 3
Castro -- 2
F. Martinez -- 9
R. Martinez -- 6
Santana -- 1

STARTING PITCHERS

WAS: Jordan Zimmermann (41.0 IP, 2-1, 5.71 ERA, 39 Ks, 12 BBs)
NYM: Johan Santana (60.0 IP, 6-2, 1.50 ERA, 75 Ks, 14 BBs)

WEATHER

Light showers and mild. First pitch: 67F.

NOTES

With Josh Bard away from the team with his wife expecting any minute, the Nats recalled Luke Montz from Double-A Harrisburg to back up Wil Nieves. Montz is batting under .200 with just two home runs and eight RBIs in 33 games this season between Syracuse and Harrisburg.