Williams rests handful of regulars for finale against Marlins

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

September 21, 2014, 6:52am

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MIAMI - What do Ian Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman, Denard Span, Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos have in common?

They're all on the bench for this afternoon's finale of a four-game series against the Marlins. Manager Matt Williams is taking advantage of his team's early clinching of the National League East to rest a significant portion of his starting nine.

strasburg shadows coors sidebar.jpg The Nationals are going for their second four-game sweep of the season (they took four straight from Arizona from Aug. 18-21) and the eighth in team history. Their nine sweeps this season are tops in the NL and tied for fourth in the major leagues.

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg (12-11, 3.34 ERA) takes the hill against Miami righty Nathan Eovaldi (6-12, 4.48 ERA). Strasburg will look to continue the recent success of Nationals starters, who have posted a 1.68 ERA in the first 10 games of an 11-game road trip.

The Nats are 29-21 in Strasburg's 50 career road starts, but Strasburg has struggled at Marlins Park, going 2-4 with a 6.90 ERA in six starts there. Still, his seven wins against the Marlins are his most against any team.

For the Nationals
3B Anthony Rendon
2B Asdrubal Cabrera
CF Bryce Harper
1B Adam LaRoche
LF Kevin Frandsen
SS Danny Espinosa
C Jose Lobaton
RF Nate Schierholtz
RHP Stephen Strasburg

For the Marlins
LF Christian Yelich
2B Donovan Solano
3B Casey McGehee
CF Marcell Ozuna
1B Justin Boar
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
RF Kike Hernandez
SS Adeiny Hechevarria
RHP Nathan Eovaldi