Going Deep with The Nats

The Washington Nationals hit a home run by creating a top prospects exhibition game versus an MLB lineup. That game begins minutes after noon today with the first pitch and temperatures in the low 50’s, a sharp contrast from the 70-to-80 degree weather in south Florida.

LHP MacKenzie Gore might be starting this game against RHP Jackson Rutledge although the Nats’ haven’t finalized all of the details. Trey Lipscomb will play with the top prospects even though he is technically still on the big league roster and with a shot of making the Nats’ Opening Day roster.

The roster is taking shape and almost complete with no decision on Trey Lipscomb who still needs to be added to the 40-man roster if he makes the team. Decisions were revealed a few minutes ago that RHP Matt Barnes, OF Eddie Rosario, and OF Jesse Winker have all made the MLB team.

The fourth round of cuts sent OF Alex Call, OF Jacob Young, and Jacob Barnes back to minor league camp as they were all top performers, and C Drew Millas who had his struggles in camp was also part of four players cut.

Five days from today is Opening Day in Cincinnati for the Washington Nationals. Manager Dave Martinez has already named Josiah Gray as his starting pitcher for that game. There will be no extra rest as Gray is set to pitch in the second game of this day/night split-squad doubleheader and stay on that 5-day schedule for Thursday’s start. Jake Irvin is set to start the first game today at 1:05 pm against the Cardinals in Jupiter. The second game begins at 6:05 pm at CACTI Park as the Nats final home game of the Grapefruit League in 2024.

We are now at the final weekend of the Grapefruit League, and the 15-10 Washington Nationals have assured themselves to have clinched a winning record with just three games remaining that include a split-squad doubleheader tomorrow, and a Sunday afternoon finale. The team will then fly to Washington, D.C. after Sunday’s game. Monday is a day-off, and Tuesday is the On Deck: Nationals Futures Game. Of course, Thursday is Opening Day in Cincinnati. Josiah Gray will start one of the games tomorrow on regular rest and pitch Opening Day on regular rest.

Yesterday, we wrote that the Washington Nationals game, last night, would be the final audition for Zach Davies, and unfortunately for him, he stumbled off of the stage. Davies hit the skids in the fourth inning — giving up seven runs, and nine in the game to push his Spring Training ERA to 9.00. Davies, fighting for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, seemed to have it sewn up, until he didn’t, after that fourth inning collapse. Trevor Williams pitches today in his final Grapefruit League game for that same fifth starter’s spot, and there’s the issue, there are no more games for Davies to prove himself. Maybe Davies and Williams pitch in the Future’s game on Tuesday — but how do you get past yesterday’s meltdown?

This will be Zach Davies final audition in the Grapefruit League for the Washington Nationals. There has been no indication if Davies is set to make the Nats’ roster, and a fifth starter is not technically needed until April 7 against the Phillies. As of now, his next start is TBD, and could be at the Nats’ On Deck: Nationals Futures exhibition game in six days at Nationals Park, or he could stay behind at extended Spring Training at the CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.