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Washington Nationals vs New York Mets: Grapefruit League GameThread - Adam Eaton and Michael A. Taylor take on Mets...

The Washington Nationals’ pitcher is batting eighth. Adam Eaton is playing in a real live Grapefruit League game + more as the Nationals take on New York’s Mets in West Palm Beach, FL.

MLB: Spring Training-Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Nationals’ skipper Dave Martinez was asked earlier this winter if he’d adopt his former boss’s habit of occasionally batting his pitcher eighth? Would he be like Joe Maddon in that way, going for the two leadoff hitters thinking? Martinez said then that, yes, he might actually try it sometimes.

“We’re going to be creative,” he said. “We’re looking at different options and different things. You might see it. I’m not going to sit here and lie to you. You might see that.”

We’re going to see it in Grapefruit League action this afternoon.

Martinez has today’s starter, Tanner Roark, batting eighth as the Nationals go up against the NL East rival New York Mets, with Wilmer Difo penciled in as the No. 9 hitter and the starting second baseman today.

He also has Bryce Harper leading off (to get him as many at bats as possible and then get him out of there), and Adam Eaton (batting 3rd) and Michael A. Taylor (batting 6th) back in the lineup after each dealt with their respective injury issues and got plenty of at bats in Minor League games recently.

Here’s what Martinez had to say about his lineup construction when he spoke to reporters in West Palm Beach before today’s game:

Roark is making his fifth start of the Spring, having held hitters to a .178 AVG through 12 innings so far in Grapefruit League action, giving up eight hits and five runs (3 ER), with three walks and 10 Ks in his first four outings.

All of the action is available in the nation’s capital on 106.7 the FAN in D.C. (with that feed available via MLB dot com as well) with Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler calling the action as the Nationals and Mets go at it...

HERE’S THE NATIONALS’ LINEUP FOR TODAY’S MEETING WITH THE METS: