Washington Nationals announce Jefry Rodriguez will start tonight’s game...

Tommy Milone was scheduled to start tonight’s matchup with the Miami Marlins, but in a note on Twitter, the Washington Nationals announced this morning that it would be right-hander Jefry Rodriguez starting instead, with Milone available out of the bullpen.

That’s it, for now, as far as the available information, though the Nationals noted that there would be a corresponding later this afternoon.

Milone made his 2018 debut against the Marlins in Miami, giving up four hits and three runs in the first before settling in with four scoreless innings on the mound against Washington’s NL East rivals.

In three starts since, the 31-year-old left-hander has put up a 5.19 ERA (10 ER in 17 ¹⁄₃ IP), with opposing hitters putting up a .324/.338/.535 line against him in those outings.

Last time out, the southpaw surrendered 10 hits and two earned runs in 4 ¹⁄₃ innings on the mound in what ended up a 7-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Rodriguez, 25, earned his first major league win when he started against the Atlanta Braves in the nation’s capital earlier this month, going five innings on the mound in Nationals Park, over which he gave up three hits, a walk, and one earned run.

“He was good,” Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez told reporters after that outing.

“Real good. He gave us five good strong innings, that’s what we needed.”

In six games, four starts, in the majors this season, the 25-year-old right-hander is (1-1) with a 5.84 ERA, 13 walks, 20 Ks, and a .255/.358/.479 line against in 24 ²⁄₃ IP.

While a corresponding move will be announced later today, Martinez told reporters on Friday afternoon that Jeremy Hellickson would likely end up on the 10-Day Disabled List today after spraining his right wrist on a play at the plate during the series in St. Louis.

More information when it’s available...