Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter

JUPITER, Fla. – It’s not really spring training until you play a split-squad doubleheader. Unfortunately for the Nationals staff (and your trusty beat reporter), today features a split split-squad doubleheader with an afternoon game against the Cardinals in Jupiter followed by a night game against the Marlins in West Palm Beach.

This is March.

After some initial confusion, it will be Michael Soroka making his Nats debut today against the Cards. The 27-year-old right-hander figures to have his position in the Opening Day rotation secured after he signed a one-year, $9 million contract in the offseason, making him the Nats’ highest-paid pitcher.

Soroka is hoping to recapture the form that made him the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up. He went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA and 1.111 WHIP in 29 starts with the Braves that season, but injuries have derailed his once-promising career ever since.

He did, however, post a 2.75 ERA in 16 relief appearances with the White Sox last year, so he’ll look to build off that as he works back into a full-time starter’s role.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Where: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: None
Radio: MLB.com (Cardinals’ feed)
Weather: Mostly sunny, 77 degrees, wind 7 mph in from left field

NATIONALS (ss)
CF Jacob Young
RF Robert Hassell II
1B Nathaniel Lowe
DH Josh Bell
3B Paul DeJong
2B Amed Rosario
LF Daylen Lile
SS Trey Lipscomb
C Andrew Knizner

RHP Michael Soroka

CARDINALS
LF Victor Scott II
CF Lars Nootbaar
1B Wilson Contreras
3B Nolan Arenado
DH Alec Burleson
2B Nolan Gorman
C Pedro Pagés
SS JJ Wetherholt
RF Jose Barrero

RHP Miles Mikolas