The Cleveland Indians hoped to begin August with Jonathan Lucroy as their catcher and Andrew Miller as their closer. They did not get Lucroy who vetoed the trade, and the only big need the Indians filled was for the back of their bullpen with Miller. Since then, Danny Salazar was placed on the DL. Like the Indians, the Nationals added a coveted back of the bullpen arm in Mark Melancon by the end of the trade deadline.
The Cleveland Indians enter today’s game up by 2.5 games over the Detroit Tigers for 1st place in the AL Central division, and find themselves with a 5-5 record in their last 10 games. The Nationals played two games in July against the Indians and split the two-game series.
Bryce Harper will sit out another game as he battles neck stiffness, and the Nats staff has suggested that Harper refrain from doing physical activity until his neck feels better.
Today’s starters are Max Scherzer and Trevor Bauer for the Indians. Bauer is a product of the 2011 draft where he went number three overall out of UCLA. Bauer owns a 4.08 ERA and has not been consistent for his team.
Here are the Nats stats against Bauer:
Here are Max Scherzer’s stats against the Indians:
Washington Nationals and Cleveland Indians
Stadium: Nats Park, Washington, DC
1st Pitch: 7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN, MLB Network, Sports Time Ohio, MLB.tv
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Trea Turner 2B
- Jayson Werth LF
- Daniel Murphy
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Wilson Ramos C
- Chris Heisey RF
- Danny Espinosa SS
- Ben Revere CF
- Max Scherzer RHP
