As expected, Mark Melancon is with the Nationals in San Francisco and has been activated to the 25-man roster, and to make room for Melancon, the Nationals have optioned Reynaldo Lopez back to Triple-A Syracuse.
For those wondering, Melancon will wear jersey number 43. Melancon wore number 35 with the Pirates and as he has done with every team he joins, he has changed to a new jersey number. Ross Ohlendorf was the last Nat who wore number 43. Could it be that Melancon is a Larry Brown fan?
Jonathan Papelbon will begin a new role in the Nationals bullpen with the acquisition of Melancon, and Papelbon took the news of his demotion like a pro.
“I think anybody losing their job is a hard thing to accept, period,” Papelbon said after yesterday’s game. “I think that’s just a hard pill to swallow, no matter who you are and what job you’re in. … I think for me I’m just going to have to do whatever it takes to accept a new role and a new challenge for myself.”
The Nats hope today is the day they get to debut Melancon in the 9th inning. For today’s game, Daniel Murphy will get a second consecutive day off to rest his sore hamstring, and Jayson Werth gets a scheduled day off.
Gio Gonzalez will face Matt Cain in today’s finale in this four-game series. There have been swirling rumors that the Giants want to replace Cain who has struggled to a 5.95 ERA on the season.
Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants
Stadium: AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
1st Pitch: 4:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, Comcast Bay Area, MLB.tv
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Trea Turner 2B
- Ben Revere CF
- Bryce Harper RF
- Wilson Ramos C
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Chris Heisey LF
- Danny Espinosa SS
- Gio Gonzalez LHP
