Half the time that I try to type "starting", my fingers end up typing "startling". Keep that in mind as you read the following. Yesterday, this was the lineup that Ron Roenicke sent up against the Diamondbacks:
Corey Hart, RF
Nyjer Morgan, CF
Ryan Braun, LF
Prince Fielder, 1B
Rickie Weeks, 2B
Jerry Hairston Jr., 3B
Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
Jonathan Lucroy, C
Yovani Gallardo, SP
Today, this is the starting lineup that Ron Roenicke will send up against the Diamondbacks:
Corey Hart, RF
Nyjer Morgan, CF
Ryan Braun, LF
Prince Fielder, 1B
Rickie Weeks, 2B
Jerry Hairston Jr., 3B
Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
Jonathan Lucroy, C
Zack Greinke, SP
Why, there's nothing startling in there at all! It's the exact same lineup! Pitcher excepted, of course.
Not that there was any good reason for Roenicke to change things up. As Tom Haudricourt notes, Hairston is starting even though Casey McGehee is 5-for-5 against Daniel Hudson in his career, but then I think we all know at this point that batter/pitcher matchup stats are devoid of meaning, so whatever. Hairston doesn't offer McGehee's power, but he offers almost everything else.
It's going to be a tough test for Hudson. Is that even worth saying? That's probably not worth saying.