As the Nationals open this 3-game series in Atlanta, Matt Wieters has gone to the 10-day DL with what the team is calling a mild left oblique strain. Pedro Severino has been called up to take Wieters’ spot on the roster and has been inserted into the starting line-up against tonight’s lefty pitcher. In addition, Trea Turner will be leading-off in place of Adam Eaton who was just named the NL Player of the Week — and this was actually only a partial week as most team’s only played 3 games — but what a three games it was for Adam Eaton.
Eaton batted .615 with a 1.231 OPS, and he scored an incredible 7 runs and knocked in 5 RBIs in just 3 games over the weekend. Now get this, his Fangraphs WAR is already higher this year at +0.6 than it was all of last year and by the way, Mighty Mouse leads all of baseball. What is hard to grasp is that last year in 23 games Eaton was still very good scoring 24 runs and driving in 13 RBIs and only had a +0.5 WAR as the Nats’ centerfielder.
Davey said he didn’t give Eaton a chance to protest not playing today. He told him he had a day off,
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) April 2, 2018
It takes no math or analytics to figure out that the Nationals still are stretched thin in the bullpen. Ryan Madson won’t be available and most likely Sammy Solis also — but where is Shawn Kelley? He was never seen in the bullpen over the weekend in Cincinnati and was the only person on the 25-man roster who was not used except for Tanner Roark who starts tonight and A.J. Cole who starts tomorrow.
The Nationals face the lefty Sean Newcomb tonight, and several familiar faces as the Nats face the NL East rival Braves 19 times a year plus additional game(s) in Spring Training. These teams know each other well on both sides.
Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves
Stadium: Suntrust Park, Georgia
1st Pitch: 7:35 pm EDT
TV: MASN2; MLB App out-of-market
Nats Radio: 106.7 The Fan and via the MLB app
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
- Trea Turner SS
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Bryce Harper RF
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Howie Kendrick LF
- Michael Taylor CF
- Wilmer Difo 2B
- Pedro Severino C
- Tanner Roark RHP
