4/12 at WAS

Reds lineup vs. Nationals

Stubbs 8
Cozart 6
Votto 3
Rolen 5
Bruce 9
Ludwick 7
Valdez 4
Mesoraco 2
Latos 1

*Latos is 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA in four career starts vs. WSH and 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA at Nationals Park.

*I didn’t get to this after Wednesday’s game, but check out these stat comparsions on Chris Heisey, who won the game vs. STL with a PH RBI single in the bottom of the 9th:

as a starter: .230/.298/.420 with 18 HR, 47 RBIs in 99 games.

as a PH: .356/.403/.729 with 6 HR, 20 RBI in 67 games.

Heisey freely admits he doesn’t feel pressure when asked to pinch-hit in clutch situations, but that he might get more nervous when in a pressure moment late in a game he’s been in all day.

“I can’t really explain why in my mind I am more relaxed pinch-hitting than I am when I’m up there in a late game situation after being the starter,” Heisey said.

“He’s remarkable at doing that,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said of Heisey’s pinch-hitting skills. “If now we can just transfer that to when he’s playing every day. Pinch-hitting, he’s one of the best.”

*It’s the home opener for the Nationals today and although brisk, it’s a very nice day. The Reds have never been part of an Expos or Nationals home opener in that franchise’s history. Washington is 2-5 in home openers since the move, and has dropped the last three.