Strasburg facing Sabathia in final Grapefruit League game (with lineups)

By Josh Land

Nationals

April 03, 2015, 6:44am

Comments

TAMPA - Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated on Wednesday that today's lineup would be his regulars. If so, that would mean that Danny Espinosa would be the team's starting second baseman on opening day.

espinosa over the shoulder catch atlanta sidebar.jpg Espinosa has spent the entire spring transitioning from a switch-hitter to exclusively batting from the right side of the plate. He was only 7-for-51 (.137) in the exhibition season, but Williams may prefer Espinosa's glove to Dan Uggla's at second, especially with other new faces around the Nats infield.

There's an exceptional pitching matchup today, as right-hander Stephen Strasburg faces big lefty CC Sabathia. Strasburg is expected to pitch five innings in his final tune-up before taking the hill against the Mets next Thursday at Nats Park.

For the Nationals
CF Michael A. Taylor
3B Yunel Escobar
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
C Wilson Ramos
SS Ian Desmond
LF Tyler Moore
2B Danny Espinosa
RHP Stephen Strasburg

For the Yankees
LF Brett Gardner
SS Didi Gregorius
DH Brian McCann
1B Mark Teixeira
RF Garrett Jones
3B Chase Headley
CF Chris Young
2B Gregorio Petit
C John Ryan Murphy
LHP CC Sabathia