Photo by Kevin Nibley for TalkNats
This game starts the final 50-games for the Washington Nationals this season. Once again, they are playing a potential playoff team and would love to play the real spoiler.
The Nats will start Paolo Espino tonight, and the Mets have Carlos Carrasco in what should be a statistical mismatch for the Nats. But keep in mind that Espino beat the Mets already this season.
It is a welcomed sight to see Juan Soto back in the starting lineup after missing starts in the past three games. The Nats had no roster changes for today’s game. They did give some good news that one of the Nats’ top prospect pitchers, Jackson Rutledge, is back on the mound after he had a blister on his pitching hand. He will get another start back at Low-A Fredericksburg.
Manager Dave Martinez critiqued several of his players in today’s lineup, and one of the points was about accepting your walks. In particular he talked about a batter expanding in a 3-1 count and not taking a walk, but isn’t that a problem we’ve seen with many players in this lineup not named Soto? Martinez was also complimentary of the progress that Yadiel Hernandez has made and said he could see him being a candidate for a starter’s spot next year.
Washington Nationals vs. New York Mets
Stadium: CitiField, Queens, New York
1st Pitch: 7:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN; SNY; MLB App out-of-market
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
1. Victor Robles CF
2. Alcides Escobar SS
3. Juan Soto RF
4. Josh Bell 1B
5. Yadiel Hernandez LF
6. Carter Kieboom 3B
7. Luis Garcia 2B
8. Riley Adams C
9. Paolo Espino RHP
