Clemente made a big impact on Martinez and his family

Today Major League Baseball is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Day and Roberto Clemente Day.

Clemente was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player who played right field for 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 15-time All-Star died tragically in a plane crash while on his way to help earthquake victims in Nicaragua on New Year's Eve, 1972. He was 38.

Clemente, as a baseball player and humanitarian, had a tremendous impact on Nationals manager Davey Martinez and his family.

"Growing up, my dad being from Puerto Rico, he was my dad's hero," Martinez said. "He made me understand what he meant to people in Puerto Rico, and all Hispanics all over the country. As we all know, he perished because he was trying to help people from Nicaragua. Not only is he a legend on the field, but also off the field."

Martinez said Clemente inspired him to begin a charity to help less fortunate families while he was with the Giants, Cubs and Rays.

"I've done a lot of things over my career for the Latin community. I raise awareness for struggling families and kids, children," Martinez said. "For years I did a charity (where) we used to bring 25 families every homestand to games and treat them to a game, underprivileged families and children, so it means a lot to me.

"That comes from my upbringing, my parents, and knowing what Roberto did. I'm a huge fan. As a player, when I struggled and I didn't feel right I always said, 'What would Roberto Clemente do right now when he's struggling? Play really hard'. So, continue to play hard."

To honor Hispanic Heritage Day, Nats players wore T-shirts during batting practice that read "Ponle Acento" (put an accent on it), and will continue to do so throughout the month.

* The teams named the pitching probables for the series between the Nats and the Indians that begins here tomorrow night. Right-hander Austin Voth will start Friday, left-hander Patrick Corbin on Saturday. Sunday's starter has yet to be announced.

That decision depends on whether the Nats have secured home-field advantage for the wild card game Tuesday. Martinez said he will know by Saturday who will start that game for the Nats. It seems pretty likely that it will be right-hander Max Scherzer.

The Indians will go with right-handers Zach Plesac, Adam Plutko and Mike Clevinger.

* Catcher Kurt Suzuki is on track to return this weekend. Martinez envisions the veteran backstop starting Friday's opener against Cleveland, but not playing the entire game.

"He threw the ball well again today. He's about 90-95 percent," Martinez said. "I'm going to sit and talk with him tonight. Let's see how he feels throughout the day, and if he feels good, it's possible he might play five, six innings tomorrow just to really get him back out there and get him in that whole baseball routine again."

* The Nationals are seeking a five-game sweep of the Phillies today. They need to win to keep ahead of the Brewers, who are 1/2 game back after their 5-3 win over the Reds earlier today. Martinez likes the way the club, especially the offense, has responded recently, winning six of their last seven games.

"Yeah we always play to win, but it feels good that all of a sudden guys are swinging the bats a lot better," Martinez said. "Our pitching's doing good, our bullpen's pitching better, everything seems to be clicking right now. So we're in a good place right now.

"So, let's continue to play good baseball, and that's all I've been preaching the last few days. Play good baseball, and really, this is the time right now where we really have to focus on staying in the moment. Not getting ahead of ourselves. One game at a time. Going 1-0. And focus on the here and now."

A win today and the Nats would finish 14-5 against the Phillies, including 9-1 in D.C.