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Nationals’ lineup vs the Marlins: Tanner Roark takes on the Fish again... but no Jayson Werth

Tanner Roark makes his final regular season start of the 2016 campaign as the Nationals look to even things up with the Marlins.

By Patrick Reddington
Arizona Diamondbacks v Washington Nationals Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Tanner Roark held the Miami Marlins to three hits, three walks and one earned run in seven innings when he faced the Fish in South Florida on September 20th. He was up against Jose Fernandez in that outing, however, and took the loss in what ended up a 1-0 game in the Marlins’ favor.

Roark followed up on that outing with a less-than-stellar start against the Arizona D-Backs in which he gave up four hits and five runs in four innings before Dusty Baker decided to go to the bullpen when the pitcher’s spot came up with the bases loaded and one out after Danny Espinosa struck out in the eight-spot in what was a 5-2 game at that point.

Baker talked after the game about the Marlins’ approach against the Nationals’ right-hander.

“Their game plan was doing a bunch of first-ball hitting off of Tanner,” he explained, “because that first go-round, they were swinging early in the count, most times the first pitch and we took Tanner out, which I was very reluctant to do, and if Danny gets a hit in that situation then I can leave him in the game.

“But we were threatening in that one inning. I was hoping to get more than two runs out of that inning with bases loaded and nobody out and we didn’t.”

The Nationals ended up losing 14-4 and Roark failed in his second attempt to set a career-high with his 16th win.

He fell to (15-10) on the year, with a 2.86 ERA, a 3.79 FIP, 69 walks (3.04 BB/9) and 168 Ks (7.40 K/9) in a career-high 204 1⁄3 innings pitched, over which he’s held opposing hitters to a .229/.310/.335 line (as a starter).

Roark goes for his 16th win (I know, wins, right!?!?!) of the season in his final regular season start this afternoon.

He’ll have to try to do it without Jayson Werth’s help.

Werth left last night’s game early with back tightness, but told reporters afterwards that he would be surprised if he didn’t play today. Werth’s not in the lineup today...

Here’s the Nationals’ lineup for this afternoon’s matchup with the Marlins:

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