One thing you can say about the Washington Nationals is that they have been very supportive of their local hockey team for years. This year, manager Dave Martinez took the fandom to a whole new level wearing Capitals apparel pre-game and post-game once the long hockey post-season started and through all four rounds to the Stanley Cup victory. In early May, Bryce Harper tweeted his hopes for a Vegas and Caps finals and he got his wish. Nationals players regularly have gone to Caps games over the winter, and with the off-days Max Scherzer and Ryan Zimmerman got to attend Game #4 of the Stanley Cup finals game. Today, the Washington Nationals welcome the champion Capitals to Nationals Park with the Stanley Cup, and Caps superstar Alexander Ovechkin will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
From the Nationals, “Join the celebration tomorrow today (6/9/18) at Nationals Park as we welcome the 2018 Stanley Cup champions back to DC. The Washington Capitals (with the Stanley Cup on-hand!) will take part in a pregame ceremony starting at 11:30 a.m. Be sure to get in your seat early to catch all the action. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. ET.” The puck drops first pitch is at exactly 11:47am by Alexander Ovechkin.
Unfortunately not all the news today is good news as Stephen Strasburg will be headed to the disabled list with what was described as shoulder inflammation. We have to hope for the best that all Strasburg needs is the standard combination of rest and anti-inflammatory medications. Strasburg has suffered from many maladies this year from a left hand cramp to hamstring tightness to calf tightness.
Also expect Adam Eaton to be activated from the 60-day DL which will require a 40-man spot to be opened.
Eight years ago yesterday, Pudge aka Ivan Rodriguez returned from the DL to catch Stephen Strasburg’s debut game. Pudge’s teenage son Dereck Rodriguez spent many days in Nationals Park as a then 17 and 18 year old teenager. Dereck just turned 26-years-old this week and is now a starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and gets his second career start today. So far so good for the righty pitcher. Rodriguez so far is pitching better than his 3.40 ERA he had in Triple-A this year. His sample sizes are tiny and lefties and righties have hit him identically at a .250 batting average.
UPDATES: Rafael Bautista has been DFA’d to make room on the 40-man roster for Adam Eaton and Wander Suero was optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse. Stephen Strasburg has not been placed on the DL as of this moment.
San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 12:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN; MLB App out-of-market
Nats Radio: 106.7 The Fan and via the MLB app
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
- Adam Eaton RF
- Trea Turner SS
- Bryce Harper CF
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Matt Adams 1B
- Juan Soto LF
- Wilmer Difo 2B
- Spencer Kieboom C
- Gio Gonzalez LHP
The last time Bryce Harper played centerfield was October 3rd of 2015. He will start in centerfield today for the Washington Nationals. pic.twitter.com/rCvMF7ZilH
— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) June 9, 2018
