Erick Fedde with Derek Lilliquist looking on; Photo by Luis Albisu for TalkNats
This Friday game has two youngsters going up against each other in a game the Washington Nationals need to win to end this 3-game skid. Erick Fedde pitches for the Nationals against ex-Nats farmhand Nick Pivetta.
Once again Nationals manager Dave Martinez has shuffled up his line-up and put the recently struggling Adam Eaton back at the lead-off. Not only is Eaton in a 1-11 slump, but he also has seemed reluctant to take the extra bases when he has reached base. On Tuesday in a tag-up situation , Eaton did not go and in the same inning Dave Martinez gave the steal sign and he botched the front-end of a double steal in the 1-0 loss.
This all goes back to the Nationals leading the Majors in losing runners on base. For a team so talented with speed, they have also seemed to have put the “governor” on Trea Turner when he is batting in front of Bryce Harper which the “roadrunner” is again tonight according to the line-up card.
Both Daniel Murphy and Michael Taylor get the start of the game off in this one as Eaton essentially is taking Taylor’s spot as Harper moves to centerfield, and Mark Reynolds starts at first base.
The Nationals we were told earlier will pitch Jeremy Hellickson tomorrow and Gio Gonzalez on Sunday to face Jake Arrieta. The Nats could have pitched Scherzer on regular rest on Sunday, however they have chosen to keep Gonzalez on his regular schedule after his disastrous 1.0 inning loss on Monday.
Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium: Citizen’s Bank Ballpark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1st Pitch: 7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN2; 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
- Juan Soto LF
- Mark Reynolds 1B
- Wilmer Difo 2B
- Spencer Kieboom C
- Erick Fedde RHP
