One-more-game! One-more-game! Two more days. But one more game until they count. Washington's Nationals wrap up their Spring this afternoon when they take on the Minnesota Twins in the second game of their two-game exhibition set in D.C.
This afternoon it's Joe Ross on the mound in the nation's capital taking on the Twins.
Ross, 22, impressed again in Grapefruit League action, after his breakthrough campaign in 2015, giving up 14 hits, four walks and five runs, three earned in 9 ⅔ IP over which opposing hitters had a .341 AVG.
Ross makes his fifth appearance and fourth start of the Spring this afternoon in the last game before Monday's season opener in Atlanta.
Nats' skipper Dusty Baker is once again sending an everyday-ish lineup out there to take on the Twins:
- Michael A. Taylor - CF
- Anthony Rendon - 3B
- Bryce Harper - RF
- Ryan Zimmerman - 1B
- Daniel Murphy - 2B
- Jayson Werth - LF
- Wilson Ramos - C
- Danny Espinosa - 2B
- Joe Ross - RHP
Also listed on the lineup card and likely to pitch this afternoon are lefties Aaron Laffey and Oliver Perez and right-handers Trevor Gott, Rafael Martin and Nick Masset.
On the mound for Minnesota this afternoon is right-hander Ricky Nolasco, 33, who made four appearances overall, three of them starts this Spring.
Nolasco gave up 14 hits, five walks and six earned runs in those outings, striking out 14 batters in 13 ⅓ innings over which opposing hitters had a combined .275 AVG.
Here's the full lineup card via the Nationals on Twitter:
One final exhibition game today, #Nats vs. #MNTwins.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 2, 2016
12:05 pm | #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/X6hy71yH9l
GAME TIME: 12:05 PM EDT; FOLLOW: This afternoon's game is available on MASN and MLB.tv and is also on the radio on 106.7 the FAN in D.C. with Charlie and Dave calling the action.