For the first time since 2013, Nationals slugger Bryce Harper is batting lead-off. Harper is at the top of the order for Tuesday night’s tilt against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Bryce Harper is leading off. Max Scherzer is batting 8th. #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/kugp7hRkac
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 1, 2018
During spring training, Nationals manager Dave Martinez stated that he would talk to Harper about the possibility.
“For us, say you have a tough matchup. A guy that wears us out a little bit, maybe you want to try,” Martinez said, per Jamal Collier of MLB.com. “We’re struggling a bit offensively, create something early, create some excitement. What better excitement than having Harper lead off with a homer?”
Some will bark at the notion considering Harper’s explosive power better suits him to bat third or cleanup in an order. However, the Nationals are in dire need of a spark. Despite winning back-to-back games, Washington enters with a record of 13-16 and 5.5 games back of first-place in the NL East.
Harper has 76 plate appearances as lead-off, hitting .313/.413/.594 with four home runs and nine RBIs. He also has four doubles and a triple when placed at the top of the order. All but one of those plate appearances occurred during the 2013 season.
