Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
Starting lineups were released about thirty minutes before first pitch due to a positive COVID test in the pitching ranks. Both Erick Fedde and Tanner Rainey were placed on the COVID IL list. One of them tested positive, and one was identified as being in close contact. The player who tested positive feels fine according to Nats’ manager Dave Martinez who said the player was vaccinated; however the other player was not vaccinated. The team called up both Kyle McGowin and Paolo Espino from the taxi squad.
This almost guarantees that Stephen Strasburg will come off of the IL, and make the start on Friday night versus the Orioles. Interestingly, after Sunday’s game, Fedde was seen in close contact with family and friends in Arizona and appeared to break the COVID protocols. It does not mean that Fedde was the player who tested positive, but it does make it a point of concern if he was the player.
On the mound tonight is Max Scherzer and he will face Jake Arrieta who the Nats are very familiar with after his time in Philadelphia. Scherzer has been incredible this season if you remove his two worse starts his ERA is 1.12. Overall, it is pretty darn good at 2.10, and the team is 5-3 in Scherzer’s starts this year. In the month of May, his ERA is 0.84 with a .127 batting average against.
Manager Dave Martinez put Josh Bell back in the 3-hole in the lineup which has not worked well at all unless the matchups favor it against a starting pitcher he has good numbers against.
Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs
Stadium: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
1st Pitch: 7:40 pm EDT
TV: MASN, Marquee Sports Network, 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. Juan Soto RF
3. Josh Bell 1B
4. Kyle Schwarber LF
5. Starlin Castro 3B
6. Josh Harrison 2B
7. Yan Gomes C
8. Max Scherzer P
9. Victor Robles CF
