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In his last Grapefruit League start, before he faced off against Washington Nationals’ minor leaguers last time out, Aníbal Sánchez tossed four scoreless innings against Miami back on March 9th, giving up just four hits and inducing 10 ground ball outs. He was not concerned about the results after the outing, however.
“The good thing is just I was able to throw the four innings, it’s an opportunity to continue to build my arm for the season, and it’s just another Spring Training game,” Sánchez said.
The 35-year-old veteran has given up eight hits, two walks, and two earned runs over three starts and eight innings pitched this Spring, after signing a 2-year/$19M deal with the Nats this winter.
Asked, after getting the 10 groundouts from the 16 Marlins’ batters he faced, if he cared about how he got outs, Sánchez said all he was really concerned about is efficiency, or striving for it.
“Like the first inning, I don’t remember how many pitches I threw, but I think it’s just a few, less than 10 pitches, those kind of innings, that’s what’s I’m looking for every time.”
The 13-year veteran is coming off a bounce-back 2018 campaign with the Braves which saw him put up a 2.83 ERA, a 3.62 FIP, 42 walks (2.77 BB/9), and 135 Ks (8.89 K/9) in 136 2⁄3 IP, with a .211/.278/.359 line against in 133 2⁄3 IP as a starter.
Sánchez is set to make his fourth Grapefruit League start this afternoon when the Nationals take on their NL East rivals from Atlanta in the Braves’ Spring Training home, though there is some question about whether or not the weather will permit it...
If they do play, here’s Washington’s lineup for today’s matchup:
#Nats at #Braves at 1:05 PM EDT (weather permitting; only via MLB's At Bat app): Victor Robles CF; Wilmer Difo 2B; Carter Kieboom SS; Jake Noll 1B; Andrew Stevenson LF; Pedro Severino C; Alec Keller RF; Matt Reynolds 3B; Aníbal Sánchez RHP.
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) March 19, 2019