:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45997814/usa-today-8469851.0.jpg)
When he met with reporters this morning, before today's Grapefruit League game against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Florida's Tradition Field, second-year Nationals' skipper Matt Williams, who announced that right-hander Max Scherzer would be the Opening Day starter earlier this week, officially set the rest of the rotation, barring, of course, any hiccups or changes between now and the start of the season.
After Scherzer in the season opener, it will be Jordan Zimmermann in Game 2 of 162, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister taking the mound for the defending NL East Champs.
Manager Matt Williams said if all goes according to plan #Nats rotation will line up: Scherzer, Zimmermann, Strasburg, Gonzalez, Fister.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 28, 2015
Strasburg is set to make his third official start of the Spring this afternoon.
Washington's 26-year-old, '09 no.1 overall pick, who started each of the last three season openers, has made two Grapefruit League starts this Spring, and three starts overall, with one outing against a group of veterans and minor leaguers which followed a procedure to take care of an ingrown toenail.
Strasburg's last start in competitive action came on March 17th, when the right-hander threw four scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers, striking out five. He twisted his left ankle while working out in preparation for his third start in Grapefruit League action, but rested and tested it afterwards without incident.
Strasburg is back on the mound again this afternoon.
Here's the Nationals' lineup for today's game:
#Nats lineup @ #Mets (1pm): Escobar 2B, Harper RF, Ramos C, Stewart 3B, Moore LF, C.Robinson 1B, Espinosa SS, Gwynn CF, Strasburg P
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 28, 2015
NOTE: Clint Robinson is penciled in at first base. Ryan Zimmerman left yesterday's game early after a bruising his side on a diving play at first, but Williams told reporters after the game that he could have continued playing, but came out as a precaution.
The Nats' skipper provided an update on Zimmerman's situation this morning:
Matt Williams on Ryan Zimmerman's jammed L shoulder/upper back: "Worst-case, I think it's a couple days."
— Mark Zuckerman (@ZuckermanCSN) March 28, 2015
WATCH: Today's 1:10 PM EDT game is available on WPIX Ch.11 in the New York metropolitan area and on MLB.tv.