Game Thread: Nats vs. Phillies in Clearwater
James Wood is starting in right field again as the Nationals face Trea Turner and Bryce Harper this afternoon
Well, the Nationals are no longer undefeated. And if you’re going to lose your first game of the spring, might as well put up a complete dud like they did last night when they managed one hit during a 7-0 shutout to the Yankees. They’ll look to get back on track this afternoon against the Phillies to wrap up this overnight trip to the Gulf Coast.
Blake Butera’s lineup has James Wood in right field and Daylen Lile in left for the second time in three days. While stopping short of suggesting this is a permanent move, Butera did say Wood (who played more right field than left field in the minors) was excited to get some action there this spring. Curious to see how this all plays out.
Jake Eder, who started Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener, becomes the first Nationals pitcher to start his second game of the spring. The left-hander is going to face some heavy hitters in Trea Turner, Bryson Stott and Bryce Harper.
As mentioned yesterday, I’m back home in D.C. for a couple weeks before I return to West Palm Beach. But I’ll be watching the video feed the Phillies are providing on MLB.TV today. I’ve been warned it’s not a full broadcast, just a few stationary cameras with announcers ...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MLB.TV (Phillies feed)
Radio: None
Weather: Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, wind 8 mph out to center
NATIONALS
SS Nasim Nuñez
RF James Wood
LF Daylen Lile
3B Brady House
CF Robert Hassell III
1B Andrés Chaparro
C Riley Adams
2B Seaver King
DH Caleb Lomavita
LHP Jake Eder
PHILLIES
SS Trea Turner
2B Bryson Stott
1B Bryce Harper
RF Bryan De La Cruz
C Garrett Stubbs
3B Dylan Moore
CF Johan Rojas
LF Dante Nori
DH Kehden Hettiger
RHP Taijuan Walker
Rough relief outing for Gus Varland, who was charged with four runs in only two-thirds of an inning and served up a two-run homer to the previously unknown Kehden Hettiger on a fastball right over the plate. Varland also gave up doubles to Dante Nori and Bryce Harper before getting pulled by Blake Butera before completing his inning.
On the bright side, Andres Chaparro blasted a two-run homer off lefty Tanner Banks in the top of the fourth to trim the deficit to 5-3. If Chaparro is going to be part of a first base platoon, that's exactly what he needs to do: Hit for power against lefties.
Good to see Nasim Nunez get things going out of the leadoff spot with an opposite-field double off an 0-2 pitch, then come around to score. Not so great to see Jake Eder give up a homer to Bryson Stott on an up-and-away fastball in the bottom of the first.