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The Washington Nationals travel to Lakeland, Florida's Joker Marchant Stadium this afternoon to take on the Detroit Tigers in Grapefruit League action at 1:05 pm EDT.
Today's game is available via MLB.com's Gameday audio, which will carry the Tigers feed of the matchup.
Good morning from Lakeland. #Nats take on the #Tigers in about 2 hours: pic.twitter.com/1CBiskt5w5
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 14, 2014
Taylor Jordan, 25, makes his fourth appearance and second start of the spring. In seven innings of work thus far, the right-hander has allowed eight hits and three runs, striking out nine without allowing a walk.
Jordan made his MLB debut in 2013, going (1-3) with a 3.66 ERA, a 3.49 FIP, 11 walks (1.92 BB/9) and 29 Ks (5.05 K/9) in nine starts and 51 2/3 IP over which he was worth +0.7 fWAR. Jordan is in camp competing for the fifth spot in the Nationals' rotation. In spite of the fact that he suffered a broken ankle this winter, the right-hander has pitched without incident thus far in Spring Training.
Before Jordan's first outing of the spring, Nats' skipper Matt Williams told reporters that he liked what he saw from the young-ish starter and thought he just had to begin to trust in his stuff, which Williams said was impressive.
"For me, he's got mid-90's fastball and movement," Williams said. "Good changeup. Breaking ball for strikes. I've been really impressed with what I've seen. It's electric stuff out of the hand."
After going three innings against the Braves last time out on March 8th, Jordan should take another step up in his progression as he prepares for the start of the 2014 campaign, wherever it is he begins the season. Last year, he started in High-A Potomac and worked his way up to Double-A and the majors before he was shut down in August in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery.
• Here's the lineup that will take the field behind Jordan this afternoon:
#Nats lineup @ #Tigers, 1pm: Span CF, Rendon 2B, McLouth RF, Hairston DH, Lobaton C, Moore 1B, Kobernus LF, Walters SS, Carroll 3B, Jordan P
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 14, 2014
• Here's the Tigers' lineup for this afternoon's game:
#Tigers lineup: Kinsler 2B, Hunter RF, Cabrera DH, Martinez 1B, Avila C, Jackson CF, Castellanos 3B, Davis LF, Perez SS. Porcello P.
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) March 14, 2014
Game time: 1:05 pm EDT. As noted above, this afternoon's game is available via MLB.com's Gameday audio.
Who's listening to the Nationals?