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Washington Nationals at New York Mets and vs Detroit Tigers: Split Squad Grapefruit League GameThread...

Gio Gonzalez takes on the Detroit Tigers in West Palm Beach while Edwin Jackson takes on the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Florida at 1:05 and 1:10 PM EST this afternoon, respectively.

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

Gio Gonzalez tossed two scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins in his 2018 debut in Grapefruit League action this past Tuesday, in what ended up a 2-2 tie with Washington’s NL East rivals.

This afternoon, Gonzalez is on the mound in the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in one of two split squad games the Nationals are playing today.

Edwin Jackson is starting for the Nationals as well, on the road against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Florida’s First Data Field.

E-Jax is making his third appearance of the Spring, but his first start since signing another minor league deal with the Nationals after making 13 starts for the 2017 NL East champs in 2017.

Gonzalez threw 27 pitches in two innings against the Fish earlier this week, and said after the outing he felt good in his first trip to the mound this season.

“The ball was coming out of my hand pretty good,” Gonzalez said, as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman.

“The first inning was just trying to get a timing rhythm going again. The second inning was going after hitters.”

Gonzalez, 32, went (15-9) record in 32 starts in 2017, with a 2.96 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 79 walks (3.54 BB/9), 188 Ks (8.42 K/9), and a .213/.298/.345 line against over 201 innings, with a $12M option for 2018 in his contract triggered automatically when he reached 180 IP on the season.

Jackson, 34, made 16 appearances overall in the majors last season (three of them with the Baltimore Orioles and the 13 starts for the Nationals), going (5-6) overall with a 5.21 ERA, 6.14 FIP, 29 walks (3.43 BB/9), 60 Ks (7.11 K/9), and a .263/.326/.520 line against in 71 IP as a starter.

Gonzalez and the Nationals are on the radio in the nation’s capital this afternoon with the voices of Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler calling the action on 106.7 the FAN in D.C. at 1:05 PM EST, while E-Jax and the Nats take on the Mets in a game that’s on WPIX in the NY area and available on MLB.tv in the nation’s capital at 1:10 PM EST.

HERE ARE THE NATS’ LINEUPS FOR TODAY’S GAMES VS NY AND DETROIT:

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