The Miami Marlins play their regular season games just an easy 71 mile drive down south on I-95 from The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The Marlins play their spring training games just 14 miles north in Jupiter, Florida. This is the first time the Marlins travel to play the Washington Nationals in their new home.
Today’s 1:05pm game has A.J. Cole starting against lefty Dillon Peters of the Marlins. Peters has never played above Double-A ball, and he might be the lefty pitcher the doctor ordered to get some of the struggling righty Nats bats going like Ryan Zimmerman (.000) and Jayson Werth (.200). Even Trea Turner (.263) would like to put together some multiple hit games.
Photo Credit Marlene Koenig @royalmusing
We do not know when Matt Wieters will make his Grapefruit League debut nor do we know when Joe Blanton or Max Scherzer will make their debuts. Opening Day will be less than 24+ days away once today’s game finishes, and there will be questions that will persist on Scherzer and the catcher’s position with regards to not only Wieters but also Derek Norris and Jose Lobaton.
Dusty Baker continues to get strong performances from Wilmer Difo (.429) and Michael Taylor (.409) and Pedro Severino who started yesterday against the Cardinals and went 2-2 to raise his batting average to .571.
Dusty Baker’s starting line-up is:
- Trea Turner SS
- Adam Eaton CF
- Bryce Harper RF
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Jayson Werth LF
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Jose Lobaton C
- Grant Green 2B
- Stephen Drew DH
A.J. Cole RHP
Today’s game can be heard on the MLB app for audio only. Neither team is televising the game.
Where is Derek Norris? Not in the starting lineup.
