Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNats
For Nationals manager Dave Martinez, he believes in the one game at a time approach which sounds cliché, however it makes sense to focus on the task at hand and not look too far ahead. In the starting rotation, Anibal Sanchez just needs to follow what his teammate Patrick Corbin found to be successful yesterday. The Brewers will pitch the righty Jordan Lyles who the Nats have faced before when he was with the Pirates. Lyles was a July deadline acquisition by the Brewers to beef up their depleted starting rotation that is missing three starters.
With Max Scherzer throwing his scheduled sim game today, he should be ready to come off of the injured list in five days after he threw 64 pitches and four innings today which should get him to 75+ pitches and probably five to six innings in a start in Pittsburgh on Thursday or on Friday in Chicago. The other question is who leaves the rotation when Scherzer returns. Both Erick Fedde and Joe Ross are scheduled for one more start prior to Scherzer being activated from the injured list, and Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo will have a difficult decision on who will stay as the Nationals #5 pitcher.
Today’s lineup has been posted, and Davey Martinez is starting Asdrubal Cabrera at second base and Kurt Suzuki to catch Sanchez. Both of them have been among the three players along with Trea Turner who have hit Lyles well.
The Nationals have a chance to reach uncharted territory in Davey Martinez’s managerial career if things go the Nats way tonight. Last night, the Nationals put additional pressure on the Braves for the NL East lead as the Nats have pulled to within 3-games in the L column after the Braves lost to the Dodgers.
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, FOX Sports Wisconsin, FS1, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
