Taylor Jordan Will Start Against The Mets on Friday
By Pablo Roa
Feb 23, 2014; Viera, FL, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher
Taylor Jordan(38) poses for a picture during photo day at Space Coast Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Manager Matt Williams announced Tuesday afternoon that Taylor Jordan will be taking the mound in the Nationals’ first exhibition game of the spring this Friday against the Mets.
The game will not only kickoff the teams’ Grapefruit League schedule, but it will also likely signal the beginning of the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation. Jordan will be competing with the likes of Ross Detwiler, Tanner Roark and Ross Ohlendorf for the spot, with Detwiler being the presumed favorite.
While it won’t be an easy Spring for Jordan by any means, Williams seems to think highly of the 25-year-old right-hander who made his major league debut last season.
"“I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen,” Williams told the Associated Press (via the Washington Post). “It’s electric stuff out of the hand. I can’t wait to see him in a game and get an opposition hitter in there and have some competition for him.”"
Friday’s game is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the Mets will counter with right-handed pitcher Rafael Montero. It’s not exactly Opening Day, but it’s baseball. And after almost five months of waiting, anything that involves players, umpires and fans in a stadium is a blessing to any baseball fan. The game will air (delayed) on MLB Network, and will also be broadcast on WJFK 1580 AM.
Here’s the lineup for Friday’s game, as it stands right now:
#Nats vs. #Mets on Fri will be: McLouth 9, Espinosa 4, Zimmerman 5, LaRoche 3, Desmond 6, Ramos 2, Moore DH, Hairston 7, Taylor 8. Jordan 1.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) February 25, 2014
Checkout our ‘Schedule’ page here for the Nationals’ complete Grapefruit League schedule.