Nats game blog: Roark gets the ball for home opener

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

April 07, 2016, 11:14am

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With today's home opener, the Nationals begin a three-game, four-day series against the Marlins. It's right-hander Tanner Roark facing left-hander Adam Conley.

The Marlins played the Nationals tough last season. The Nats led the season series 10-9 in 2015, but have won 37 of their 57 games (.649) against the Fish. The Nationals have won three straight in the series.

Tanner Roark begins this season as a starter. Two years ago as a starter, he won a career-high 15 games over 31 starts. But last season, Roark went back and forth between starter and reliever. The results were mixed. In 40 games (12 starts), Roark went 4-7 with a 4.38 ERA and one save. His 2.85 ERA from 2014 nearly doubled.

He also had a tremendous spring, going 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA over five games (four starts) with 17 strikeouts and three walks.

The Nationals are 2-3 in home openers when a season begins on the road. The wins coming in 2005 versus Arizona (5-3) and in 2012 against Cincinnati (3-2).

Marlins starter Adam Conley made his major league debut in June 2015. He went 4-1 with a 3.76 ERA over 15 games (11 starts) for the Marlins. He defeated the Nationals 4-3 in D.C. on Aug. 28, despite allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts over five innings. He gave up two home runs, one by Wilson Ramos.

Game blog for the opener - let the comments commence!