Greetings from a gleaming Nationals Park, where the Capitol building sits picturesquely beyond left field. Weâve already given you the Carlos Delgado news, so now comes the rest of the lineups for tonightâs opener of a two-game set here in Washington with the Nationals. Brian Schneider is back after missing three games with a bruised right forearm, just in time to catch Johan Santana in his matchup with Nationals right-hander Tim Redding. Willie Randolph also has Luis Castillo and Ryan Church back in the lineup after resting them in Tuesdayâs getaway-day loss in Chicago.
As we mentioned, Delgado is now in the No. 6 hole, with Church taking his place in the fifth spot behind Carlos Beltran. The Mets are trying to get both Delgado (.208) and Beltran (.215) going with the move.
Here is the Metsâ lineup as they try to break a three-game skid:
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
RF Ryan Church
1B Carlos Delgado
LF Angel Pagan
C Brian Schneider
LHP Johan Santana (2-2, 3.25)
The Nationals, meanwhile, limp in at 6-15 and dead last in the NL East after getting swept by the Mets last week:
2B Felipe Lopez
SS Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Nick Johnson
RF Austin Kearns
CF Lastings Milledge
LF Wily Mo Pena
C Wil Nieves
RHP Tim Redding (3-1, 3.27)
