After watching MacKenzie Gore set down the New York Yankees over his final two starts of Spring Training, the Washington Nationals’ fans have to be cautiously optimistic about their trade for him in 2022. The lefty was a top prospect who was drafted in the first round by the Padres. In his time with San Diego, he already has a few gems on his MLB record. We have seen what this southpaw can do when his 4-seam fastball is working because his two breaking pitches and changeup will just keep batters guessing.
We will see how these Nats wrap-up their first series of 2023 as this game is the salvage game of this series. Sample sizes are still small and after this game, there are 159 games to go. Spring Training games told us a little, and we knew that once the games counted that the game of baseball just changes.
Manager Dave Martinez is operating on the final year of his contract. This is a big year for him to prove that he deserves an extension. Listening to principal owner, Mark Lerner, speak on Opening Day, it sounds like general manager Mike Rizzo will get an extension. But the question is whether Rizzo will want Davey back.
So while nobody expects the Nats to be great this year, there is an expectation that the team can at least be fun to watch. Let’s see that today with Gore on the mound for D.C.
Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 1:35 pm EDT
TV: MASN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan radio and via the MLB app
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
