Atlanta Braves (0-0) v. Washington Nationals (0-0)
Nationals Park, Washington D.C.
Tommy Hanson (10-11, 3.33, 1.174 in 2010) v. John Lannan (8-8, 4.65, 1.563 in 2010)
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The second game of this three game series finds the Nationals still looking for their first run of the season, as they suffered a 2-0 loss at the hands of Derek Lowe and the Braves on Opening Day.
Washington will trot out the same lineup as Thursday, with the exception of Wilson Ramos taking over at catcher for Pudge Rodriguez. Manager Jim Riggleman said before today's game that Ramos and Rodriguez will split duties the first ten games of the season.
"Ramos is a guy that we really have great expectations for him and I really don't want him to have a situation like we had in the Spring where he would have a couple days off between starts," Riggleman explained, "I thought that he played a lot better in the Spring when he got consecutive days, when he only had a day off, if he had two off, he's a young hitter I think that needs to see some action, so he and Pudge will be splitting it up here quite a bit early."
At this point in his development, Ramos needs to be playing on a regular basis. The Nationals need to find out if he is going to be the player they think he is: a legit No.1 starting catcher. And you don't find that out by sitting him on the bench in deference to a future Hall of Famer who is now a major liability to the batting order.
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Braves: Prado (LF), McLouth (CF), Jones (3B), McCann (C), Uggla (2B), Heyward (RF), Gonzalez (SS), Freeman (1B), Hanson (P)
Nationals: Desmond (SS), Werth (RF), Zimmerman (3B), LaRoche (1B), Morse (LF), Ankiel (CF), Espinosa (2B), Ramos (C), Lannan (P)
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