For the first time this season, the Washington Nationals have had a game washed out due to rain. Tonight’s regularly schedule game between the Nats and the Toronto Blue Jays has been postponed. According to the team, there will be a split doubleheader tomorrow:
Tonight's #Nats - #BlueJays game has been PPD due to rain. It will be made up tomorrow (Tuesday) as part of a split doubleheader at 1:05 pm
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 1, 2015
The starters for tomorrow’s games, according to manager Matt Williams, are Jordan Zimmerman and Max Scherzer. Scherzer will start the game that was scheduled for 7:05 PM ET tomorrow. Zimmermann, who was supposed to start Monday, will get the ball for Game 1 at 1:05 PM ET. The Nationals can use an extra man for Game 2 of the doubleheader, but that is not known as of this time:
The #Nats will remain on turn for tmrw's doubleheader. Jordan Zimmermann will start Game 1 at 1:05pm & Max Scherzer will start at 7:05 pm
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 1, 2015
As for the Blue Jays, they are going to stay on turn in their rotation as well. R.A. Dickey will start Game 1 while Marco Estrada will pitch Game 2. Estrada was originally scheduled to face Scherzer Tuesday night.
Due to having to play two games tomorrow, the Nationals rotation still remains a mess. Williams has not named a starter yet for Wednesday night’s game, a game that would have been started by Stephen Strasburg. Two candidates for that start would be Taylor Jordan, who relieved Strasburg on Friday and A.J. Cole, who pitched for triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
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If this game was played, Denard Span would have been out of the lineup. Michael Taylor would have got the start in center field while Yunel Escobar would have been the team’s leadoff hitter. Span was taken out during the eighth inning of Sunday’s loss against the Reds because of a knee injury. Here’s the latest on what Williams had to say about Span this afternoon:
Denard Span's knee is still sore, per Matt Williams. Getting treatment and Nats hope he's back tomorrow.
— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) June 1, 2015
Earlier today, Doug Fister completed a step in his rehab process as he tries to work his way back to the rotation after suffering a strained flexor injury. Fister, who hasn’t pitched since May 14 against the Padres, got back on the mound for the first time today:
While it is not good to have a rainout usually, it does give some rest to the bullpen, which was used a ton in the series against the Reds. Plus, it allows Denard Span to get an extra day of rest for his knee. It will be interesting to see the two best pitchers in the Nats rotation get a chance to throw on the same day against a Blue Jays lineup that has scored the most runs in all of baseball.