NORTH PORT, Fla. – Hello, for the first time ever, from CoolToday Park, home of the Braves. It’s the first time the Nationals have ever played here, and it’s the first time your humble beat writer has ever been here, which officially completes my lifetime Grapefruit League circuit. I’ve now been to every active spring training site in Florida at least once. What do I win?
The Nats spent the night in a nearby hotel after playing the Rays in Port Charlotte on Thursday. So it’s the same roster of guys here to face Atlanta. They brought a bunch of backups, though, so it’s not the exact same starting lineup.
On the pitching side, this is going to be a bullpen game. It’s Jake Irvin’s day to throw, but he stayed back in West Palm Beach and is facing hitters on a back field. So it’s going to be a parade of relievers this afternoon, starting with a guy who used to be a starter but we recently learned has become a reliever: Jackson Rutledge. The 2019 first round pick faces a formidable lineup, with most of the Braves regulars playing.
If you’ve seen the schedule, you’ve also seen that the Nats are playing a “Spring Breakout” game today in West Palm Beach. That’s the leaguewide showcase for top prospects. Obviously, I can’t be there and here at the same time, so I won’t have any coverage of that game. The good news: They play another breakout game Sunday, and I will be there for that one.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: CoolToday Park, North Port
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MLB.tv (Braves’ feed)
Radio: MLB.com (Braves’ feed)
Weather: Sunny, 78 degrees, wind 5 mph out to left field
NATIONALS
Lineup TBA
RHP Jackson Rutledge
BRAVES
2B Ozzie Albies
3B Austin Riley
1B Matt Olson
DH Marcell Ozuna
CF Michael Harris II
SS Orlando Arcia
RF Jered Kelenic
C Drake Baldwin
LF Jake Marisnick
RHP Spencer Schwellenbach