Scherzer faces Fister as Nats hit the road to play Astros

By Pete Kerzel

Nationals

March 08, 2016, 1:42am

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KISSIMMMEE, Fla. - The Nationals will see an old friend in today's exhibition game against the Astros. Right-hander Doug Fister, who signed a one-year, $8 million deal with Houston in the offseason, will make the start for the home team.

Washington counters with righty Max Scherzer, who will be making his second start of the spring. Once again, not a lot of regulars on the trip.

The Nationals are excited to play the Astros, who are only an hour away and the closest opponent on the Grapefruit League circuit (especially after making two two-hour trips south on Interstate 95 to visit Jupiter and a trek of more than three hours to Port Charlotte in the past week). Next season, if all goes well, the Nats and Astros will be sharing a new complex in West Palm Beach. I guess that means the Astros will still technically be the Nats' closest opponent.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS AT HOUSTON ASTROS
Where: Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee
When: 1:05 p.m. EST
TV: None
Radio: MLB.com (Astros broadcast)
Weather: Mostly sunny, 77 degrees, 9 mph winds toward left field

For the Nationals:

RF Matt den Dekker
SS Trea Turner
CF Michael A. Taylor
1B Clint Robinson
DH Tyler Moore
3B Jason Martinson
2B Wilmer Difo
LF Reed Johnson
C Jose Lobaton

RHP Max Scherzer

For the Astros:

2B Jose Altuve
RF George Springer
SS Carlos Correa
LF Colby Rasmus
CF Carlos Gomez
DH A.J. Reed
1B Jon Singleton
3B Colin Moran
C Jason Castro

RHP Doug Fister