The Nationals open a big, 4-game series in New York tonight against the first-place Mets, and they’ll have their starting third baseman back in the lineup. No, not Anthony Rendon, who is still waiting to resume his rehab assignment with Class AA Harrisburg. Yunel Escobar returns after missing two games with a left hand injury suffered when Atlanta’s Andrelton Simmons slid late and hard into him Monday night.
Escobar will bat second, which allows Matt Williams to move Ian Desmond down to the 7-spot. Perhaps that will take some pressure off the slumping Desmond (0 for his last 23).