Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals: Grapefruit League GameThread

Stephen Strasburg made his 2020 Grapefruit League debut yesterday, and this afternoon it’s Patrick Corbin’s turn to take the mound in competitive action for the first time since he pitched in the World Series last October.

Corbin finished the first year of his 6-year/$140M deal with the Washington Nationals with a 3.25 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 70 walks (3.12 BB/9), 238 Ks (10.60 K/9), and a .227/.293/.375 line against in 202 IP, and he put up a 5.79 ERA, a 2.91 FIP, 12 walks (4.63 K/9), 36 strikeouts (3.89 K/9), and a .233/.330/.333 line against in eight games, three starts, and 23 ¹⁄₃ IP during the Nats’ postseason run (with six of the 15 ER he allowed coming in a ²⁄₃ of an inning in a rough relief appearance in the NLDS).

Corbin threw a bullpen session earlier this week, after which manager Davey Martinez told reporters he hoped to have the starter take the hill in a game this weekend.

“Depending on how he feels, hopefully this weekend he’s out there,” Martinez explained, as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman.

“I’m going off how he feels and what he and [Pitching Coach Paul Menhart] are doing. But he says he feels good.”

Corbin was held back some after going deep into the postseason for the first time as a pro last October, but his manager said that he wanted to get out there and start working to get the rust off.

“He talked about how he liked to work out soreness early in camp so it’s something he doesn’t have to think about later on or have pop up later on,” Martinez said.

“But he’s in a good spot right now.”

How will Corbin fare the first time out this Spring, as he prepares for the second year of his six-year deal?

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