Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
It was 15 years ago when Max Scherzer began his professional career with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization who drafted him in the 1st round. He pitched there through 2009 and then was traded in a blockbuster three-team trade that sent him to Detroit.
Against Arizona, Scherzer pitched a gem versus them earlier this season in Nationals Park with a 7.0 inning, no-run start. In Max’s career, he has a 2.55 ERA with a 7-0 record and 67 innings in total when pitching against the D’Backs.
For Washington Nationals’ manager Dave Martinez, he wrote up the same lineup he had yesterday. The Nats will face righty Riley Smith for the first time.
There are plenty of pre-game notes including the announcement that Stephen Strasburg will make a rehab start for the Nats’ Triple-A affiliate, Rochester Red Wings, on Sunday. Martinez expects him to pitch 75-80 pitches which should line up Stras to pitch next weekend in Nationals Park against the Orioles. In Fredericksburg, they received the Nats top outfield prospect, Jeremy De La Rosa in a promotion from extended Spring Training in West Palm Beach. Also, Patrick Corbin went on paternity leave as his wife gave birth today to a son, and Paolo Espino will take the new father’s place on the roster.
The taxi squad is optional, but the Nats on this road trip, given the long distance, decided to bring Kyle McGowin, Adrian Sanchez, and Welington Castillo with them.
Washington Nationals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
1st Pitch: 9:40 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, Bally Sports Arizona, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
1. Trea Turner SS
2. Josh Harrison 2B
3. Juan Soto RF
4. Kyle Schwarber LF
5. Starlin Castro
6. Josh Bell 1B
7. Yan Gomes C
8. Max Scherzer RHP
9. Victor Robles CF
