The #Nats have announced they will wear #42 jerseys all weekend for an extended Jackie Robinson tribute; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
With all of the postponements, the Nationals were supposed to have played Game #34 today, but here we are at the team’s mathematical final game of their first half tonight. The Nats are on the outside looking in for that elusive lengthy winning streak to get in the eight team playoff race. The team stands at a disappointing 12-17 going into tonight’s game in Fenway Park. Of course the Nats continue to be the road warriors. Nobody can explain their reverse splits while batting a healthy .314 on the road versus a pedestrian .237 at home.
On the news front, manager Dave Martinez confirmed the Nats have signed Brock Holt to a free agent deal after he was released on Wednesday by the Brewers. Don’t get too excited, he is batting .100 on the season and the lefty utility man certainly needed a change of scenery. He will come to the Nats on the Milwaukee’s dime. This deal hinged on his physical and passing the COVID protocol which has now been done as he was added to the roster with Ben Braymer optioned back to the Alternate Training Site in Fredericksburg. That brings the bullpen back to nine pitchers and the bench to five. To make room on the 40-man roster, Starlin Castro was moved to the 60-day IL retroactive.
Also in the news, the Nationals will make their Jackie Robinson Day from yesterday into a tribute for the entire weekend in Fenway. That means all players will continue to wear #42 jerseys as part of the tribute.
Pitching for the Nats tonight is Anibal Sanchez who will continue to build on his strong start from Sunday against the Marlins. The Red Sox will throw righty Chris Mazza, and Davey Martinez has written up his lineup with Juan Soto batting second as part of five batters from the left side. Maybe Brock Holt will be used in a platoon to get Howie more days off against righties since Holt can play third base.
Washington Nationals vs. Boston Red Sox
Stadium: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
1st Pitch: 7:35 pm EDT
TV: MASN2; NESN; MLB App out-of-market
Nats Radio: 106.7 The Fan and via the MLB app
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
Howie Kendrick in 14 August games:
.373 AVG
143 wRC+
2 HRs
2 2Bs
9 runs
10 RBIs#ThisIsHowieDoIt // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/fDpF5WcheR— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 29, 2020
