For the 2nd night in a row, Daniel Murphy is not in the starting line-up for the Washington Nationals, but Dusty Baker did indicate that Murphy could be available off the bench. Dusty wants to give Murphy’s sore hamstring one extra day. Dusty Baker goes heavy on the lefties adding in one more than usual when a right-handed pitcher starts as Stephen Drew will take Murphy’s spot at 2nd base, and Clint Robinson will take Ryan Zimmerman’s spot at 1st base.
Tonight matches up top of the rotation pitchers with Tanner Roark and Gerrit Cole. In early June, Cole injured his triceps muscle in his right throwing arm. Cole had been out on the DL for over a month and last pitched for the Pirates thirty-six days ago.
Here are the Nats stats against Cole:
Here are Tanner Roark’s stats against the Pirates:
Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN, ROOT-Pitt, MLB.tv
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Ben Revere CF
- Jayson Werth LF
- Bryce Harper RF
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Clint Robinson 1B
- Wilson Ramos C
- Stephen Drew 2B
- Danny Espinosa SS
- Tanner Roark RHP
