Split-squad lineups: Nats vs. Astros and Mets

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – It’s day two of Grapefruit League play, and already the Nationals are pulling double duty. Yes, it’s the one and only split-squad day of the spring for the boys, with half the team staying here in West Palm Beach to face the Astros while the other half heads to Port St. Lucie to face Max Scherzer and the Mets.

Davey Martinez decided to keep most of his veterans here, but there are still a good number of big leaguers playing in the road game. And there are actually three members of the projected Opening Day rotation pitching today between the two sites.

Trevor Williams gets the start here against the Astros, scheduled for one inning. He’ll actually be followed by Cade Cavalli, who was on schedule to pitch either today or tomorrow. Since the team is off tomorrow, Cavalli gets to piggyback Williams today. (He’ll start his next turn through the rotation.) Josiah Gray, meanwhile, starts the road game against the Mets, also slated for one inning.

The lineups are pretty much split up, as well. Lane Thomas, Corey Dickerson, Jeimer Candelario, Dominic Smith, Keibert Ruiz and Victor Robles are starting against the Astros. CJ Abrams, Luis García and Joey Meneses will bat 1-2-3 on the road for the second straight day. Also of note: 2021 first-round pick Brady House is on the travel roster for the game in Port St. Lucie and could come off the bench late in the game.

You can watch both games with an MLB.tv subscription, and you can listen to the home game online at nationals.com, with Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler behind the mic.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (ss) vs. HOUSTON ASTROS
Where: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EST
TV: MLB.tv (Astros broadcast)
Radio: nationals.com
Weather: Sunny, 84 degrees, wind 6 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
RF Lane Thomas
LF Corey Dickerson
3B Jeimer Candelario
1B Dominic Smith
C Keibert Ruiz
CF Victor Robles
SS Jeter Downs
DH Riley Adams
2B Jake Alu

RHP Trevor Williams

ASTROS
RF Kyle Tucker
CF Jake Meyers
LF Chas McCormick
DH Luke Berryhill
2B J.C. Correa
SS Shay Whitcomb
1B David Hensley
3B Joe Perez
C Cesar Salazar

RHP José Urquidy

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (ss) vs. NEW YORK METS
Where: Clover Park, Port St. Lucie
Gametime: 1:10 p.m. EST
TV: MLB.tv (Mets broadcast)
Radio: MLB.com (Mets broadcast)
Weather: Sunny, 85 degrees, wind 6 mph in from left field

NATIONALS (ss)
SS CJ Abrams
2B Luis García
DH Joey Meneses
1B Matt Adams
3B Michael Chavis
LF Alex Call
RF Travis Blankenhorn
CF Derek Hill
C Israel Pineda

RHP Josiah Gray

METS
Lineup TBA

RHP Max Scherzer