Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Who’s ready for some baseball? I can assure everyone here is, having made it through 10 days of pitchers and catchers and eventually full-squad workouts. Those days get tedious toward the end, and everyone is itching to get the Grapefruit League started this afternoon.

The Nationals are on the road for their opener, but that doesn’t mean they have to pack their bags and board a bus to go anywhere. Because they’re facing their co-residents of CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, all they have to do is make sure they’re wearing gray pants and prepare to bat in the top of the first. It’s not a bad situation at all.

Jake Irvin gets the ball for the opener, and the right-hander is thinking big things for his 2025 season. Irvin knows consistency is the name of the game, and while there’s only so much he can during his one scheduled inning this afternoon, he can get things off on a right foot with a quick, easy frame against Houston.

The Astros have split-squad games today, so half of the team is headed up to Port St. Lucie to face the Mets while the other half stays here for this game. Their starter this afternoon is Ryan Gusto, a 25-year-old right-hander who had a 3.70 ERA and 141 strikeouts last season at Triple-A Sugar Land.

Facing Gusto is a Nats lineup featuring some, but not all, of the regulars. With CJ Abrams sitting until Sunday, it'll be Dylan Crews in the leadoff spot and Amed Rosario at shortstop. We'll also see Keibert Ruiz behind the plate and Josh Bell serving as designated hitter.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. HOUSTON ASTROS (ss)
Where: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
Gametime: 1:05 p.m.
TV: MLB.tv (Astros’ feed)
Radio: 980 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 72 degrees, wind 13 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
RF Dylan Crews
3B José Tena
C Keibert Ruiz
DH Josh Bell
SS Amed Rosario
LF Alex Call
1B Juan Yepez
CF Jacob Young
2B Trey Lipscomb

RHP Jake Irvin

ASTROS (ss)
2B Mauricio Dubón
RF Chas McCormick
1B Jon Singleton
C Victor Caratini
LF Jack Dezenzo
CF Jake Meyers
3B Shay Whitcomb
DH Quincy Hamilton
SS Luis Guillorme

RHP Ryan Gusto