Photo by Andy Ward for TalkNats
Winter is officially over. Spring has sprung and hopefully the sun is shining where you are. The Washington Nationals are in Jupiter today to face the Cardinals. It is Josiah Gray for the Nats and Jack Flaherty for the Cardinals.
With Mexico’s loss in the WBC, the Nats will get Joey Meneses back and the starting lineup will be back to 100 percent. There does not seem to be any questions as to the starters on the Opening Day roster unless there is a trade or waiver claim on the horizon — but realistically everything seems set including Chad Kuhl as the fifth starter for now. The bench and bullpen is where the debate begins and whether the team adds Kuhl to the roster for Opening Day or do they wait for April 5 to add Kuhl as the fifth starter and go with nine relievers to start the season? Yes, the Nats could go without a fifth starter until April 5.
In the past, general manager Mike Rizzo has used off days to game the system and not add a fifth starter until he absolutely needs him. That allows him to give manager Dave Martinez an extra reliever to start the season.
There are no more days-off until the March 27 family travel day to Washington, D.C. Not that anyone is overworked, but just a point that there are scheduled games every day to Sunday’s Grapefruit League finale.
We do have TV today via the Cardinals and Charlie and Dave on the radio.
Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter Florida
1st Pitch: 1:05 pm EDT
TV: Cardinals TV and via the MLB app
Radio: Nationals Radio feed via MLB app
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
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