Photo by Lynn G for TalkNats
Since the NLDS games were decided on the same day, we have knew that this third game of the NLCS would matchup two of the hottest NL pitchers in Stephen Strasburg and the righty Jack Flaherty. Tonight we will get to see the replay of this game in its entirety on MASN in the first home game in the Nats history for an NLCS game. Back in the lineup for the Washington Nationals was centerfielder Victor Robles who returned from a tight hamstring and that moved Michael Taylor back to the bench. Every decision Nats manager Dave Martinez made seemed to work and he was sticking with Ryan Zimmerman against a tough righty. On the other side, Cardinals manager Mike Shildt downgraded his overall defense to add Jose Martinez to his lineup, but he kept the struggling part of the top of his lineup the same with Dexter Fowler, much to the dismay of Cardinals fans. Nats fans could commiserate with their lineup experiences from the 2017 NLDS.
So far in the postseason to that point, Stras has appeared in 3 games and has a 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 15.0 innings with 1 walk and 21 strikeouts for an impressive statline. Stras got the win in relief in the Wild Card game and in Game 2 of the NLDS and the team won Game 5 of the NLDS that he started.
At the gates, fans were handed out red towels with the retro logo like we saw in Spring Training with the capitol building. The ceremonial first pitch tonight was thrown by Parker Staples a pediatric cancer patient, and guess what, Parker threw out the first pitch on May 24th when the Nats season started the turnaround. Michael Buffer announced the Game 3 lineups, and then DC Washington sung the National Anthem. Buffer stood on top of the dugout and yelled ‘Play Ball’ with his trademarked call.
St. Louis Cardinals at Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 7:00 pm EDT
TV: MASN
Line-up:
Nats graphic
