MILWAUKEE - The Nationals successfully made it to Milwaukee, albeit 16 hours later than originally scheduled. After landing at the airport shortly after 11:30 a.m., they decided to push back their pregame routine and give guys more time to rest up at the hotel. So there's no formal batting practice today, and the clubhouse doesn't even open until two hours before first pitch. (It typically opens 3 1/2 hours before first pitch.)
So the team that takes the field for tonight's series opener against the Brewers will be running on fumes. And maybe some adrenaline, too. Who knows, perhaps that will turn into some kind of odd combination that helps propel this team to a rare series-opening victory (they're 1-10 so far in that department).
Sometimes the team will send the next day's starting pitcher ahead of the team to give him more rest. The Nationals didn't do that with Max Scherzer yesterday, probably because they all assumed it wouldn't be a big deal with a day game in Philadelphia, a two-hour flight and then a night game in Milwaukee. So Scherzer got the same lack of sleep as everyone else on the team did. Again, maybe a surly Scherzer is actually better than a well-rested Scherzer.
The lineup continues to be makeshift. Howie Kendrick returns after getting a needed day off. But Michael A. Taylor remains sidelined two days after jamming his left wrist. We'll hopefully get an update shortly on both Taylor and Matt Adams, who is already on the injured list with a left shoulder strain.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Where: Miller Park
Gametime: 7:40 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Indoors
NATIONALS (14-19)
RF Adam Eaton
CF Victor Robles
1B Howie Kendrick
C Yan Gomes
2B Brian Dozier
3B Wilmer Difo
LF Andrew Stevenson
SS Carter Kieboom
RHP Max Scherzer
BREWERS (20-16)
CF Ben Gamel
LF Christian Yelich
C Yasmani Grandal
2B Mike Moustakas
3B Travis Shaw
1B Jesús Aguilar
RF Marcus Thames
SS Orlando Arcia
RHP Jhoulys ChacÃn
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