WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg gets his first start of Grapefruit League play this afternoon, and you'll be able to watch the right-hander battle the Rays on MASN at 1 p.m.
Given that it's about a three-hour trek from the Rays' spring home in Port Charlotte on the state's west coast, there will only be a few major leaguers in the lineup facing Strasburg. So the first couple of innings will be the best chance to gauge Strasburg's effectiveness against actual major league competition (or guys close to being in the bigs).
Manager Davey Martinez said Strasburg will throw two innings or about 30 pitches, the usual workload for a guy making his first start of camp.
Ryan Zimmerman, who played first base in his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday night, gets today off. He'll be replaced by Howie Kendrick at first.
Wander Franco, the Rays' top prospect and the No. 1 prospect in the game per Baseball America, leads off and plays shortstop for the Rays. Ryan Yarbrough starts for Tampa Bay.
TAMPA BAY RAYS vs. WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EST
TV: MASN
Radio: WJFK 1580 AM
Weather: Sunny, 65 degrees, wind 12 mph in from left field
RAYS
SS Wander Franco
CF Brian O'Grady
1B Yandy DÃaz
LF Dylan Cozens
C Kevan Smith
RF Randy Arozarena
DH Michael Brosseau
2B Vidal Bruján
1B Dalton Kelly
LHP Ryan Yarbrough
NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
DH Asdrúbal Cabrera
2B Starlin Castro
1B Howie Kendrick
LF Yadiel Hernandez
C Yan Gomes
RF Andrew Stevenson
CF Michael A. Taylor
3B Carter Kieboom
RHP Stephen Strasburg
By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.masnsports.com/