Matt den Dekker has had 29 at-bats as a pinch hitter, enough for the Washington Nationals’ outfielder to know what it takes to get ready at a moment’s notice.
Usually, that moment is in the late inning of a game when the pitcher is due up in the batting order. den Dekker is usually in the same state by the game’s first pitch, too, though that was hardly the case on Wednesday.
Center fielder Ben Revere, who was injured in the season-opener on Monday, landed on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain two days later.