Martinez said Corbin emotional at loss of "best friend" Skaggs

The baseball world today is continuing to mourn the death of Los Angeles Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs.

Manager Davey Martinez began his pregame meeting with the media with a statement from the Nationals:

"On behalf of the Washington Nationals, our family here, myself, players, coaches, our heartfelt condolences to Tyler's family, the Anaheim Angels. It's a tough ordeal. Regardless of teams we play on, this is a baseball family. He's part of it. I wish the family well. Like I said, our heartfelt condolences."

Martinez said that his starter tonight, Patrick Corbin, and Skaggs were best friends, so this news hit the Nats left-hander very hard. But despite his emotional state, Corbin will still start tonight's game against the Marlins at Nats Park, Martinez added.

Skaggs was a first-round selection (40th round) by the Angels in 2009. Corbin was a 2009 second-round selection on the same team. 40 picks separated the southpaws. They were teammates on the Angels' Rookie-level Orem Owlz in 2009 and in 2010 in the Midwest League with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, and later with the Mobile BayBears and Reno Aces.

"They came up together. [Skaggs was] his best friend," Martinez said. "It's going to be an emotional day for him. I talked to him. He wants to pitch today. As a matter of fact, he will wear number 45 on (Skaggs') behalf. He was emotional earlier, but he said he wants to pitch. He feels like it's what he needs to do."

Martinez spoke to Corbin today about his memories of Skaggs.

"I told him, 'Hey, you have the support of myself, your players, your coaches, the organization, and the fans. We're all behind you, so do what you can'," Martinez said. "We'll keep an eye on him throughout the game and monitor him throughout the whole game."