(Photo by Steve Mears for TalkNats)
The last time we saw Max Scherzer he still had a pronounced black eye, and he dominated in a win against the Phillies. It was one for the ages and legend status as Scherzer battled with a broken nose and swelling around his eye. With an extra day of rest, Scherzer takes the mound in Miami. We will get to see what Max looks like after a day to relax in Miami. By the looks of the video that Juan Soto posted, many players were enjoying a fiesta at a south Florida mansion. Tonight, the team gets back to work on this business trip with three games in Miami then three games in Detroit.
All indications are that the Nationals will promote the 42-year-old reliever Fernando Rodney from Triple-A Fresno after the Nats sent Erick Fedde back to the minors which essentially gives Austin Voth the 5th spot in the Nationals starting rotation. The questions as to why Rodney was promoted over a player like Dakota Bacus might just be a matter of Rizzo hoping that Rodney has something left in the tank. Rodney was property of the Oakland A’s and was released after posting a 9.42 ERA and an horrific 2.233 WHIP. Rizzo could point to some bad luck numbers, and make a case that eleven of Rodney’s seventeen outings were scoreless. Maybe Rizzo likes Rodney’s low leverage numbers in the 6th and 7th innings in four games when he only gave up one run for a 2.25 ERA. His high leverage numbers are bad, and that is saying it as nicely as possible. In addition, Grant Paulsen of 106.7 radio says the Nats will also call up the left-handed Jonny Venters which will require a roster spot to be vacated as well as a 40-man spot which could just be a 60-day IL move. Stay tuned on this.
The Marlins have the righty Trevor Richards pitching, and the Nats have faced him a few times in his career. All of the Nats have batted against him before except for Yan Gomes. Most of the Nats who have faced him more than twice have hit him well except for Juan Soto who is 1-7 against him. Richards was an undrafted free agent out of Drury University in Missouri. The 26-year-old is in his second season with the Marlins and has posted a 3.54 ERA this season with an underwhelming 4.36 FIP.
Washington Nationals vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
1st Pitch: 7:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN, FOX Sports South Florida, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
