Photo by Andy Ward for TalkNats
UPDATED:
Davey Martinez has addressed the Ryan Zimmerman situation and why he was scratched from today's lineup that he is sick and is day-to-day. pic.twitter.com/Fdor3uYUBe
— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) February 27, 2019
Every projected player for the Washington Nationals opening day roster has played in a Spring Training game except for Ryan Zimmerman, Justin Miller, Stephen Strasburg, and Jeremy Hellickson. While Hellickson and Strasburg have pitched on the Minor League side, Zimmerman has been working out on his own, but manager Dave Martinez has promised that Zimmerman will start today along with Hellickson while Strasburg will start on Friday in Jupiter against the Marlins. That just leaves Justin Miller with an unknown status. UPDATED: Zimmerman was scratched and reported sick.
The starting pitchers have all looked good, and since the second batter in the first game of the Grapefruit schedule, the Nats starting pitchers have not given up a run. Max Scherzer as you might remember gave up a lead-off home run on Saturday and since that point the Nats starters have been stingy. Shutouts from Patrick Corbin, Anibal Sanchez, Erick Fedde, and Joe Ross have collectively yielded no runs over 8 innings.
Likewise, the projected opening day bullpen of Sean Doolittle, Trevor Rosenthal, Kyle Barraclough, Matt Grace, and Sammy Solis have not allowed a run. The same cannot be said for the Nationals minor league pitchers like J.J. Hoover, James Bourque, Koda Glover, Wil Crowe, Aaron Barrett, Henderson Alvarez, and Tanner Rainey.
You certainly do not want to judge anyone based on just one inning of work especially Koda Glover who was pulled with elbow pain and diagnosed on Monday with a forearm strain. The good news that Glover revealed is that his UCL was in good shape.
Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach, Florida
1st Pitch: 1:05 pm EDT
TV: Houston ATT TV; ESPN+ MLB App out-of-market
Nats Radio: Houston feed via the MLB app
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
Today vs. Houston:
- Trea Turner SS
- Adam Eaton RF
- Juan Soto LF
- Matt Adams DH
- Brian Dozier 2B
- Yan Gomes C
- Jose Marmolejos 1B
- Michael A. Taylor CF
- Adrian Sanchez 3B
The game starts with dark skies and a chance of rain.
Photo by Tom Sileo for TalkNats; Jeremy Hellickson warms up!
