The Washington Nationals are 9-5 on this young season, and have won 6 of their last 8 games and 3 in a row to expand their lead in the NL East to 1.5 games over the Marlins and Mets.
Jayson Werth is not in the line-up today, and we wait to see if this is in fact day-to-day or an eventual 10-Day DL situation. Michael Taylor moves to centerfield today, and Adam Eaton shifts to leftfield. Daniel Murphy Wilmer Difo gets a day-off, and Grant Green takes his spot in the line-up.
The Nationals face the knuckleballer R.A. Dickey tonight, and Stephen Strasburg starts for the Washington Nationals.
Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves
Stadium: SunTrust Park 755 Battery Avenue Atlanta, GA 30339
1st Pitch: 7:35 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, FOX Sports South, MLB.TV
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Adam Eaton LF
Anthony Rendon3BWilmer Difo SSDaniel Murphy 2BRyan Zimmerman 1BRyan Zimmerman 1BAnthony Rendon 3B- Matt Wieters C
- Michael Taylor CF
- Grant Green
SS2B - Stephen Strasburg RHP
UPDATES: A new line-up will be released as Daniel Murphy felt that recurring tightness in this right leg. Wilmer Difo will be back in the line-up with Grant Green at 2nd base. If there is good news, this has to be the Nats best defensive alignment based on the roster.
There was also the excellent post from Sao Magnifico this morning on speculation that Jacob Turner was removed early from his start today because he will be called up next week as a long-man for the Nationals trip to Colorado. According to Dusty Baker, that could happen. What we don’t know is who would come off of the 40-man roster to make room for Jacob Turner, and it could be as simple as Grant Green could be DFA’d to clear the 40-man spot, but does the bullpen go back to 8 pitchers and the bench plays a man short? Stay tuned on that.
Also, Jayson Werth reported that he is feeling better and is day-to-day. There will need to be a roster move when Trea Turner is activated on Friday or Saturday. Turner has finished his 2-game stint at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches complex where he participated in extended spring training games, and Trea Turner will be with the Nationals tomorrow in New York. What we don’t know is if Rizzo waits until Saturday to activate him.
As always, Mike Rizzo has a plan, and he will not be sharing it publicly until the time is right.
