Mar 1, 2014; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher
Jordan Zimmermann(27) pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Nationals continue their Grapefruit League schedule tonight against the Atlanta Braves, playing their rivals from the south for the third time this spring.
Jordan Zimmermann gets the ball for the Nationals in what will be his second start of the spring season. Zimmermann looked sharp his first time out last Saturday which, coincidentally, was also against the Braves.
The 27-year-old right-hander pitched two scoreless innings in a wild game that the Nationals would win by a score of 16-15. The Braves will counter with right-hander Julio Teheran, who matched Zimmermann nearly pitch for pitch with two scoreless innings of his own last Saturday against the Nationals.
Today’s game is scheduled to start at 6:05 p.m.. While it’s not necessarily a prime-time match up in the heat of a playoff race, the later start time will at least bear some resemblance to what we can expect to see during the regular season…right? Yeah, probably not.
Oh well, it’s still baseball. And more importantly, every exhibition game that goes by gets us one step closer to Opening Day. Just 25 days to go!
While there are still a few hours until game time, rain has already canceled several Grapefruit League games today and is threatening this one as well. We’ll keep you updated here at District on Deck and hopefully, the Nationals and Braves will be able to get things started on time.
The sky is looking a little ominous at Champion Stadium. Hopefully rain will be over by first pitch. pic.twitter.com/6Fh7Uou4tW
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 6, 2014
Here are the lineups for today’s game:
Nationals:
Rendon 2B
Espinosa SS
McLouth CF
Moore1B
Rhymes3B
Hairston LF
Lobaton C
PetersonDH
Souza RF
Braves:
Heyward RF
JUpton DH
Freeman 1B
Gattis C
Johnson 3B
Uggla 2B
ASimmons SS
Cunningham LF
Lipka CF