Photo by Sol Tucker/TalkNats
The Washington Nationals have an exhibition game at Nationals Park against Baltimore as part of their home-and-road 2-game series with the Orioles.
This is the final warm-up against another team before Opening Day in two days at Wrigley Field in Chicago. For that game, the Nats will start Cade Cavalli.
The final roster might not be set today or tomorrow, but it has to be set by Thursday morning. As yesterday’s pickup of Jorbit Vivas showed, Paul Toboni could make other move(s) from the outside. By the way, Vivas is in the starting lineup today
We made note of that as we discussed the final roster. The team still looks weak in backup first base with a right-handed hitter. The team still hasn’t named their closer or their right-fielder. So yes, there are still question marks.
Playing Baltimore in these games reunited two close friends as managers of their respective teams. Nats’ manager Blake Butera credits Orioles’ manager Craig Albernaz with teaching him a great deal about being a leader, coach, and manager, from their joint time together in the Tampa Bay Rays system.
❝I was telling somebody earlier, when you’re going through it offensively — which I was doing a lot when I was playing — to have someone that makes you feel good about yourself and confident every time you step in the box [is so important]. That’s definitely something I took away from that.❞
— manager Blake Butera said of Albernaz
The Nats finished first in MLB in Grapefruit League Spring Training ERA at 3.00 through Saturday’s game. Unfortunately, the Nats are last in OPS at .606.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 1:05 PM EDT
TV: Nationals.TV
Radio: Nationals Radio
