This is the third game of this four game series between the Nationals and Cincinnati Reds. The Nationals are up 2-0 in this series and looking for Tanner Roark to return to his Cy Young competitive form of 2016 when he finished with a career best 2.83 ERA and finished 10th in the Cy voting. Roark started off 2017 in fine form but hit a wall in June and saw his ERA and record spiral out of control. When you’re not pitching well, you get extra rest with short outings and Roark got more rest with the All-Star break. Now Roark has to prove he is ready.
Roark goes up against Homer Bailey who has an 8.31 ERA and has been on a downward slide since 2015 and Bailey is due $21 million next year and $23 million in 2019. The 2017 ERA is a small sample size of 4 games. The last 2 games, Bailey has looked much better as he went 6+ innings in both starts on the road and gave up only 1-run to the Rockies and Diamondbacks. Bailey did walk 4-batters in his last start along with 7 hits and seemed fortunate to exit with only one run given up.
That all leads to the question of which Roark and Bailey do we see today? That’s the $23,315,000 question. This is why we play the games. Tanner Roark has to step up as the #4 pitcher for the Nationals with the season-ending injury to Joe Ross.
Dusty Baker will make more changes in today’s line-up with a day game after a night game.
Washington Nationals at Cincinnati Reds
Stadium: Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
1st Pitch: 1:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN, FOX Sports Ohio, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® (Internet 869)
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Brian Goodwin CF
- Wilmer Difo SS
- Bryce Harper RF
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Adam Lind 1B
- Chris Heisey LF
- Jose Lobaton C
- Tanner Roark RHP
