For the twelfth game of the Grapefruit League schedule, the Nationals will finally play a game against the fourth team in Palm Beach County — the St. Louis Cardinals. What took you so long? Only the schedulers can answer that question.
These teams won’t have many pitching secrets against the other team since the Cardinals hired former Nats pitching coach Mike Maddux, and the Nationals hired former Cardinals pitching coach Derek Lilliquist. The Nationals also signed former Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams who will have his own unique perspective.
Today’s game matches up Cardinals’ right-handed 2014 first-round draft pick Luke Weaver against Tanner Roark of the Nationals.
We are just 24 days to Opening Day. Is it time to panic about where Adam Eaton is? Should we worry about Ryan Zimmerman who is just 33 years old and has sat-out with stiffness and now a calf strain and has only played in 1 game and has 2 at-bats? Lets get real on Daniel Murphy, he is almost certain to start the season on the DL. Who is the back-up catcher? Miguel Montero and Pedro Severino have both been underwhelming so far. Koda Glover has not been seen doing any throwing as he deals with a sore shoulder.
The silver lining and good news is that starting catcher Matt Wieters has looked good. The second part to the silver lining and good news is that all the players who are banged up and injured will be participating sooner than later.
The notable bench players today will be Blake Perkins and Daniel Johnson. Also, Andrew Stevenson is scheduled to replace Moises Sierra mid-game. Stevenson is making the most of his opportunities as he flashed the leather yesterday with a Web Gem and then threw out Miguel Cabrera later that inning at home plate.
Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter Florida
1st Pitch: 1:05 pm EDT
TV: Cardinals feed
Nats Radio: MLB.com (Cardinals radio)
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
- Trea Turner SS
- Matt Adams 1B
Michael Taylor CFVictor Robles CF- Miguel Montero C
- Moises Sierra RF
- Jose Marmolejos DH
- Matt Reynolds 2B
- Andrew Stevenson LF
- Adrian Sanchez 3B
Tanner Roark RHP
Photo by LEGnats for Talknats
Photo by LEGnats for TalkNats
Photo by LEGnats for TalkNats
Andrew Stevenson HR
