WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – It’s going to be a long day at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, where the Nationals play twice. Later this afternoon (5:05 p.m., to be precise), the organization’s top prospects take on the Mets’ top prospects in the Spring Breakout game (televised live on MASN). But first up, it’s the regular Grapefruit League game of the day, this one against a split-squad group from the Rays.
Michael Soroka gets the start, and it’s only the third time he’s officially pitched this spring. He has also, for the record, twice thrown to live hitters on a back field or in the cage, so his arm is built up just as it normally would be at this point in the spring. The right-hander has looked good wherever he’s pitched, allowing just one run on four hits, striking out nine while walking only one over seven official innings.
Davey Martinez has many of his regulars in the lineup, including the fearsome threesome of CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews and James Wood atop the order. Nathaniel Lowe is batting cleanup while his brother, Josh, bats third for the visiting Rays.
Kyle Finnegan and Jorge López are also scheduled to pitch out of the bullpen this afternoon for the Nats, the primary relievers starting to get more regular work as the final week of camp arrives.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. TAMPA BAY RAYS (ss)
Where: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: None
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 84 degrees, wind 20 mph right field to left field
NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
RF Dylan Crews
DH James Wood
1B Nathaniel Lowe
2B Luis García Jr.
LF Alex Call
3B José Tena
CF Jacob Young
C Riley Adams
RHP Michael Soroka
RAYS (ss)
SS Taylor Walls
CF Jonny DeLuca
RF Josh Lowe
C Ben Rortvedt
2B Tanner Murray
1B Bob Seymour
3B Coco Montes
DH Kameron Misner
LF Jake Mangum
RHP Connor Seabold