Rodriguez likely Tuesday; Strasburg update (Nats fall 7-1)

With a doubleheader today and a doubleheader Tuesday, manager Davey Martinez will have to be a bit creative in deciding where to place a starter for the Tuesday games against Atlanta. Max Scherzer will start one of those games. It would make sense based on past results that Scherzer will be the starter for the night cap.

So who will start game one Tuesday?

"We are probably going to need a pitcher," Martinez said. "Definitely for Tuesday. We haven't decided yet. I think right now if you look I think Jefry (Rodriguez) probably going to be the guy. He's scheduled for that day. It just makes sense. Because you got (Max) Scherzer that day too. And then we'll go from there. After today we are going to sit down and figure out the next steps for next week."

Jefry Rodriguez has gone 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA in five appearances (three starts) over 19 2/3 innings with the Nationals this season. His fastball has averaged good velocity at 95.2 mph but he must have more confidence in his changeup to last long in games.

Martinez said there will be no hesitation to go to Rodriguez even with it being the Braves, who are currently ahead of the Nats in the division standings.

"There's nothing really you can do," Martinez said. "We try to keep on schedule as best we can."

And with well over six hours of baseball ahead of his team today, would Martinez consider holding back some of his relievers for the nightcap tonight?

"You try to win that first game," Martinez said. "I mean you really do in doubleheaders. You go out there and you try to win the first game, hopefully your starting pitcher goes out there, Gio goes out there gives you seven strong, eight strong innings and you go from there."

Martinez had an update on Stephen Strasburg who has been on the disabled list with a cervical nerve impingement since July 22.

"Every day he is progressing," Martinez said. "There's no real time line right now. Hopefully he's feeling good enough that in the next week or so he can get off the mound and start throwing a bullpen. We'll see. He's definitely progressing in the right direction."

Strasburg returned from the disabled list about this time last season and went on to dominate opponents all the way to the end of the regular season. The Nationals hope that Strasburg can do that again this season.

"When he steps on the mound there's always an excitement," Martinez said. "He's one of the best when he's healthy. And we want him to be completely healthy the next time he comes off because we know what he can do and we know that he can help us win games."

Update: Right-hander Austin Voth has been called up and is the 26th man available for game two tonight.

Update II: Left-hander Gio Gonzalez has struggled to find strike zone in two innings. The Reds have scored four runs on six hits to start the game, highlighted by a Phillip Ervin three-run shot, his first homer of the season.

The Nats got on the board in the second thanks to a ground rule double by Juan Soto, a Daniel Murphy bloop single and a Ryan Zimmerman RBI groundout to shortstop.

After two innings, the Reds lead the Nats 4-1.

Update III: Brandon Dixon crushed a solo shot over the center field wall with one-out in the third. It was only his second homer of the season. Gonzalez has allowed five runs on eight hits over three frames.

After three innings, the Reds up 5-1 over the Nats.

Update IV: Martinez spoke pregame about importance of winning game one of a doubleheader. Game one has not gone his club's way into the fourth.

Gonzalez lasted only 3 2/3 innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits. He walked two batters, striking out five. Eugenio Suarez delivered a run-scoring single in the fourth that sent Gonzalez to the showers. Wander Suero recorded the final out of the inning.

Mid-fourth, the Reds lead the Nats 6-1.

Update V: Reds added to their big lead in the sixth off of Suero. Billy Hamilton singled, stole second and reached third on a fly out to center field. He came home on a Ervin sacrifice fly to right field.

Mid-sixth, the Reds lead 7-1.

Update VI: Ryan Zimmerman draws a walk in the ninth off of Michael Lorenzen, but the Nats cannot get anything else going and fall in game one.

Final score: the Reds 7, the Nats 1.

The Nats are 55-54.