Going Deep with The Nats

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.

While technically not a home game for the Washington Nationals, this really is as the Nats share the CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches with the Houston Astros and that makes these head-to-head games so convenient. The Nats will be providing the radio coverage tonight, and the Astros will have the TV coverage. This is also a great pitching matchup between Josiah Gray and Cristian Javier.

Time flies when you’re having fun. The Washington Nationals wrap-up their Grapefruit League play a week from today. It’s St. Patrick’s Day so who else would you want pitching today than someone named Patrick and MacKenzie. The Nats will probably be donning their green hats today.

The Nats will have two starters on the same schedule as both MacKenzie Gore and Patrick Corbin will both pitch today, and Josiah Gray was named by manager Dave Martinez as his choice for Opening Day in 11-days in Cincinnati.

What a day yesterday for the Washington Nationals organization and their fans. We had hoped to see Travis Sykora pitch for the first time, Yohandy Morales play first base, and some other positive signs. We got it all. Sykora and Morales were third and second round draft picks respectively in the 2023 draft, and Sykora hasn’t appeared in a game of record until yesterday. That was worth it all.

If you talk to Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, the Nats have plenty of spots open on the roster. Manager Dave Martinez has only publicly announced that center field is a competition. You have to wonder if the fifth spot in the starting rotation is an open spot on the roster? If so, non-roster invitee Zach Davies has tonight, and at most two more starts going forward in Spring Training to prove that he deserves that roster spot.