Nationals at Cardinals: Grapefruit League GameThread...

Tanner Roark takes the mound this afternoon at 1:05 PM EST in Jupiter, Florida as the Washington Nationals and a split-squad version of the St. Louis Cardinals’ roster match up in Roger Dean Stadium. It will be Roark’s first start of the Spring, of course, and he will likely go around three innings or 50 pitches according to a report from MASN beat writer Mark Zuckerman on the Twitter.

Roark is preparing for the 2017 campaign and a start for the U.S. squad in the World Baseball Classic coming off a (16-10) season which saw him put up a 2.83 ERA, a 3.79 FIP, 73 walks (3.13 BB/9) and 172 Ks (7.37 K/9) in 210 innings, over which he held opposing hitters to a combined .227/.309/.330 line.

Since the Nationals’ new West Palm Beach digs are closer to their Grapefruit League opponents this Spring, there is more of a major league feel to their traveling roster than there has been in previous seasons, with a number of regulars traveling to back Roark up against the Cardinals this afternoon.

Here’s the Nationals’ roster for today’s game:

Bryce Harper in the two-spot? Dusty Baker is mixing things up early apparently. Still Trea Turner leading off though... and Harper, Daniel Murphy and Anthony “Tony” Rendon is a nice 1-4. Adam Eaton batting 6th though? Whatever, it’s early in Spring Training. Take all this for what it’s worth.

It’s just one more day until the Nationals are back on the television in tomorrow’s home opener in The Ballpark of the Pam Beaches, which is being broadcast live on MASN, MLB.tv, etc.

Here’s the Cardinals’ roster for this afternoon’s matchup:

Game Time: 1:05 PM EST; Follow: Cards’ radio broadcast on MLB.com.