The Washington Nationals are still waiting for the consistent Tanner Roark to show up this year. Roark is at a 4.63 ERA and still struggling to keep it going late in games. Roark had a shutout against the Mets last weekend when he entered the 6th inning and then he gave up 3 quick runs. Roark entered the 6th inning in that game at 87 pitches, and it took him 23 pitches to complete the 6th inning and consider that he was not facing the Mets normal line-up on that outing. He faced names like Smith, Reynolds, Nimmo, Lagares, Reyes, and Flores in that 6th inning. The sad fact is that none of those players were even in the Mets starting lineup on Opening Day on 4/3/2017 except for Jose Reyes who is bottoming out in his career and took the injured David Wright’s spot at 3rd base on Opening Day. Reyes is batting .232 this season.
Many feel that Roark will still get the 4th spot in the post-season rotation over Edwin Jackson, but you never know what Dusty Baker and Mike Rizzo will decide.
In tonight’s game, Roark will face-off against Jimmy Nelson who is coming off of a 4-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers last week. Nelson has a strong 3.75 ERA this season, and in the past has pitched well against the Nationals.
In last night’s game, it was good to have the energy of Trea Turner in the line-up as he wreaked havoc the entire game and was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Unfortunately the 2-to-7 spots in the order were a combined 2-for-22 batting in the game, and the only reason Trea Turner scored 2-runs was because he got himself on 3rd base and scored both times on Jayson Werth groundouts. Turner got the only RBI off of a hit last night when he drove in Michael Taylor with a single.
Today also marks the day on the baseball calendar when rosters can expand on September 1st. Dusty Baker indicated that for tonight he will call-up two relievers by bringing in Austin Adams from Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs and the Nationals will also activate Enny Romero off of the disabled list. Other roster moves will happen shortly when the Syracuse Chiefs season end as Mike Rizzo will bring back Andrew Stevenson, Rafael Bautista, Pedro Severino, and Adrian Sanchez. While Dusty did not mention it, the team could also bring back starters AJ Cole and Erick Fedde.
Washington Nationals vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium: Miller Park
1st Pitch: 8:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, Fox Sports – Wisconsin, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® (Internet 869)
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
Here's how we're lining up tonight. pic.twitter.com/Bub1HOm65s
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 1, 2017
