Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins: Grapefruit League GameThread...

Washington Nationals’ righty Tanner Roark tossed two scoreless, striking out three in his Grapefruit League debut against the Miami Marlins this past Saturday. So if it seems like it’s a quick turnaround to have him on the mound pitching again today, you’re right. It is.

It’s all part of the plan, however, as Davey Martinez explained to reporters when the Nats’ new skipper said he would send Roark out on three days’ rest to help line the rest of his starters up going forward.

Roark, who threw 33 pitches total in his two innings of work against the Fish last weekend, apparently told his manager he was on board with the decision.

“He feels good, so we’re trying to get him another quick start,” Martinez explained, as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman.

“I talk to [pitching coach Derek Lilliquist] all the time about how we’re going to use these guys, and how many innings they’re going to pitch. If it works out, they’re all going to be in good shape.”

The point of moving Roark’s second start up, Martinez said, was to get Stephen Strasburg, who will make his Grapefruit League debut this weekend, lined up behind Max Scherzer in the rotation.

Rather than have Strasburg travel all the way to the Braves’ Spring Training home this past Monday, he stayed in West Palm Beach to throw a live BP session so that he’s now lined up to make his first start on five days’ rest, after Scherzer makes his second start this Spring. Got all that?

Anyway, what it means for today is that Roark will be facing the Marlins again as they play a game this afternoon in Jupiter, Florida’s Roger Dean Stadium.

Radio only again today via the Marlins feed if you want to follow along.

HERE’S THE NATIONALS’ LINEUP FOR TODAY’S GAME AGAINST THE FISH: