And so we have arrived at the final home game of the 2018 season. Which, of course, also means it could be the final home game of Bryce Harper's Nationals career. This isn't the manner anyone expected or wanted it to happen, on a late Wednesday afternoon against the Marlins, with nothing at stake and rain in the forecast. But this is the reality of the situation.
We don't know for sure what today has in store, but there will be opportunities for fans to salute Harper, beginning at roughly 3:45 p.m. when he receives the Nationals' 2018 Player of the Year Award in a pregame ceremony. Max Scherzer (Pitcher of the Year) and Sean Doolittle (Good Guy Award) also will be honored, so if you have tickets to the game make sure you're in your seats in time.
As for the game itself, I would expect Harper and other veterans to be pulled at some point along the way by Davey Martinez and receive ovations for their performances this season. The starting pitcher will be a newcomer, Kyle McGowin, who gets the start in place of Tanner Roark (still home with his wife and newborn son in Atlanta). Here's an opportunity for McGowin, who had a 2.80 ERA in 23 minor league starts this season, to show what he can do at this level.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. MIAMI MARLINS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Chance of rain late, 84 degrees, wind 10 mph out to center field
NATIONALS
CF Victor Robles
SS Trea Turner
RF Bryce Harper
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
1B Ryan Zimmerman
2B Adrian Sanchez
C Spencer Kieboom
RHP Kyle McGowin
MARLINS
SS JT Riddle
3B Brian Anderson
1B Derek Dietrich
RF Peter O'Brien
LF Rafael Ortega
2B Christopher Bostick
C Chad Wallach
LHP Wei-Yin Chen
CF Magneuris Sierra
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