The three hottest teams in the Majors are the Nationals, Rockies and Astros. The top two teams in the National League face-off tonight for the first game of a four game series in Colorado.
Bryce Harper was named the NL Player of the Week, and that is no surprise. Coincidentally, Dusty Baker is giving Bryce his first rest day of the season tonight.
.@Nationals Bryce Harper has been named the National League Player of the Week.
It's his 5th NL Player of the Week Award pic.twitter.com/KsgzRQAn9g
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 24, 2017
Tonight is the 19th game of the season, and the first game of the season that the Nationals will face a lefty starting pitcher. The Rockies start Tyler Anderson, and there are not any Nats who have faced Anderson in the past. The Nats start Jacob Turner who will be taking Stephen Strasburg‘s spot as Stras is on the paternity leave list and heads back home for the birth of his second child with his wife Rachel.
Another interesting situation is that the Rockies are managed by Bud Black who was probably just the answer “yes, I will take that salary” from being the Nat’s current manager instead of Dusty Baker. In the off-season, Ian Desmond signed a multi-year deal with the Rockies, and Desi broke his hand on a hit-by-pitch in spring training. He is on the Rockies disabled list and while Desi is expected back shortly, the former Nationals’ shortstop most likely won’t be back for this four-game series.
As mentioned, Bryce Harper has a rest day and so does Matt Wieters. Tonight, a Turner starts at both ends of the batting order. Does clubhouse manager Mike Wallace add a “T.” in front of Trea’s last name on the back of his jersey and a “J.” for Jacob Turner?
Washington Nationals at Colorado Rockies
Stadium: Coors Field, 2001 Blake St, Denver, CO 80205
1st Pitch: 8:40 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, ROOT RM, MLB.TV
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Trea Turner SS
- Adam Eaton RF
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Jayson Werth LF
- Michael Taylor CF
- Jose Lobaton C
- Jacob Turner RHP
