Game #24 Max Scherzer lined up for Cincy on March 29th

Photo by Lee Heiman for TalkNats

When Nationals manager Dave Martinez set up his rotation in south Florida, it became evident that Max Scherzer was going to pitch in the number one spot in the rotation followed by Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Tanner Roark and A.J. Cole. With the acquisition of Jeremy Hellickson, things could change in the 5th spot in the rotation. The way it is lined up now, Scherzer is set to pitch with no extra rest going into Opening Day on March 29th. Max is set to pitch today, next Saturday and then on the following Thursday in the season opener in Cincinnati on March 29th. Continue reading

Posted in SpringTraining | Leave a comment

Jeremy Hellickson officially joins the #Nats…so, now what?

You must be a TalkNats Subscriber to access this content. Subscribers have access to exclusive content on the TalkNats website and can engage in discussions with other Nats fans.

Click here to become a subscriber.

First two weeks are free and then you will be billed $3.99/month. Cancel anytime. Secure payments using Stripe.

If you are already a subscriber, simply log in using the form below.

Posted in Analysis, Roster | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Game #23 Nats head to Jupiter for another game with the Cardinals; A.J. Cole starts

Photo by John Caulfield for TalkNats

Today marks the last full week of Grapefruit League play as the Nationals head home one week from today after next Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. Time flies it seems kind of like the long-balls yesterday. The Nationals blasted three home runs including one by Adam Eaton in his second at-bat of the pre-season. Continue reading

Posted in SpringTraining | Leave a comment

Game #22 The time is right for Adam Eaton, Michael Taylor, and Jeremy Hellickson #58 with some luck of the Irish!

Adam Eaton is ready! Photo by Jim Osborn for TalkNats

There will be a new face in the Washington Nationals camp today as Jeremy Hellickson joins the Nationals as a free agent signing on a Minor League deal, but the biggest news is there will be a new face in Dave Martinez‘s line-up as Adam Eaton makes his 2018 Grapefruit League debut on this St. Paddy’s Day. Also in this game, Michael Taylor returns to the starting line-up after he missed almost 2 weeks with a strained oblique. Continue reading

Posted in SpringTraining | Leave a comment

Game #21 Gio takes on the Cardinals after a night of March Madness

Cardinals in West Palm Beach, Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

If you follow your favorite Nationals players on social media, you know many of them spent their evenings glued to their televisions watching the NCAA tournament as Sean Doolittle made an alternate bracket with Buffalo going all the way ahead of his Alma Mater — University of Virginia. This morning, it is back to work as the Cardinals will travel south like birds often do. These red birds will be bringing some big crowds with them today to the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The Cardinals send their 29-year-old journeyman right-hander Miles Mikolas to the mound as the Nats have south Florida’s own Gio Gonzalez. Continue reading

Posted in SpringTraining | Leave a comment

Game #20 Giving two weeks notice; Opening Day just 14 days away!

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

Yesterday was an off-day which means today Nationals’ manager Dave Martinez must click the “On” switch. There are only 11 dates remaining after today with games scheduled. Time is drawing nigh as they used to say. When will we see any semblance of the Opening Day line-up that Davey Martinez will write-up two weeks from today when the Washington Nationals open the season in Cincinnati?

So far, DMart has only had at most 5 starters in any game during this Grapefruit League pre-season. The line-up has been so disjointed that it has been an Abbott & Costello flashback to Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third — well, yes, Tony “Two Bags” Rendon is on third, but seriously we’ve seen more of Ian Sagdal and Spencer Kieboom playing first base than Ryan Zimmerman.

So far, Jose Marmolejos, Moises Sierra, and Chris Dominguez have led the Washington Nationals team in games played with 18 each in Grapefruit League games. When all is said and done, Victor Robles will most likely lead the Nats in at-bats, and the top prospect is not even projected to make the Opening Day roster.

Davey Martinez keeps reminding us that Michael Taylor, Ryan Zimmerman, and Adam Eaton are getting their at-bats on the minor league side of camp. I bet nobody over there throws a fastball like Noah Syndergaard. or breaking pitches you see from real MLB starting pitchers. Just saying.

“These guys can get all their baseball activities done [on the Minor League side],” Dave Martinez said. “They’re doing really well. [Taylor] got a couple hits and felt good. His swing looks good. We’ll do that a couple times because it’s controlled. He can play the field when he wants. He can hit every other inning if he wants. It’s totally up to him.”

Washington Nationals batting coach Kevin Long said the other day that Adam Eaton had 40 at-bats on the Minor League side. That sounds promising considering Bryce Harper hasn’t had that many this spring.

Costello: The left fielder’s name?

Abbott: Why.

We at least know the right fielder’s name is Bryce. Maybe we are worrying about nothing. Mike Rizzo said he expects Adam Eaton to start on Opening Day. Here is a look at the 45 players still in camp.

There is no MASN TV or Charlie and Dave on the radio today as Tommy Milone and Dallas Keuchel start this game between the Nationals and Houston Astros. This is Stephen Strasburg‘s scheduled day to pitch, and he will go to the minor league side to get his work in. That seems to be the theme this pre-season. Dave Martinez keeps reminding us that “all is well”. Keep repeating that — “all is well”. Do you feel better?


Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium:  FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach, Florida
1st Pitch: 1:05 pm EDT
TV:
Nats Radio: Houston radio fee available on MLB app

Line-ups subject to change without notice:

  1. Trea Turner SS
  2. Howie Kendrick 2B
  3. Bryce Harper RF
  4. Anthony Rendon 3B
  5. Matt Wieters C
  6. Matt Adams 1B
  7. Victor Robles CF
  8. Ryan Raburn LF
  9. Wilmer Difo DH

Tommy Milone LHP

Posted in SpringTraining | Leave a comment

And then there were…45! #Nats roster battle coming into focus in WPB

You must be a TalkNats Subscriber to access this content. Subscribers have access to exclusive content on the TalkNats website and can engage in discussions with other Nats fans.

Click here to become a subscriber.

First two weeks are free and then you will be billed $3.99/month. Cancel anytime. Secure payments using Stripe.

If you are already a subscriber, simply log in using the form below.

Posted in Analysis, Roster | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The #Nats run up the score early and hold on in their first night game of 2018!

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

Night baseball is back! The Washington Nationals played under the lights for the first time in the New Year and topped the division-rival New York Mets 74. Sure, it’s just spring training, but this had the atmosphere of a real ballgame for at least the first six innings as ace Max Scherzer outdueled Mets rotation hopefuls Zack Wheeler and Seth Lugo. Washington improves to 982 on the preseason, as while the Nats haven’t dominated in Grapefruit League play, they have held their own. Continue reading

Posted in Recap | Leave a comment

Game #19 and a Sweet Sixteen days to Opening Day

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

This game is a night game and televised on MASN as the Nationals welcome the New York Mets to the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The scheduled pitchers are Max Scherzer for the Washington Nationals and Zack Wheeler for the Mets. Continue reading

Posted in SpringTraining | Leave a comment

Nats win on the power and batting eye of Juan Soto; Bryan Harper saves!

This game was all about a glimpse into the future for the Nationals. Their top-2 prospects were front and center with Victor Robles and Juan Soto. The Nats silenced the crowd at Joker Marchant Stadium today in Lakeland, Florida with a come-from-behind 5-to-4 win. It was the 19-year-old Juan Soto who had the booming oppo double onto the warning track with 2-men on-base to push the score to a 3-to-2 deficit. The Nats tied the score on a wild pitch then Juan Soto scored on a Chris Dominguez single and tallied the final run of the day on a bases loaded walk by the 19-year-old Soto that featured a big bat flip! Continue reading

Posted in SpringTraining | Leave a comment