WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - In deciding to delay Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin's first starts of the spring a few days, the Nationals have opened the door for some younger pitchers to get an opportunity to take the mound for the first and second innings this week.

Today, that young pitcher will be Wil Crowe, who gets the start against a Mets lineup featuring plenty of regulars.

Crowe, a second-round pick in 2017, split last season between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Fresno, where he went a combined 7-10 with a 4.70 ERA and 1.333 WHIP. He's (in manager Davey Martinez's words) a "strike thrower," which is code for "he doesn't throw hard enough to get away with poor command." So today presents a nice challenge for the 25-year-old and an opportunity to show the big league coaching staff and front office he deserves consideration for a call-up at some point down the line.

Only a few regulars are in the lineup for the Nationals, who had just about everybody play Sunday in split-squad games. Trea Turner will lead off and serve as designated hitter, with Adam Eaton, Asdrúbal Cabrera and Yan Gomes behind him.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. NEW YORK METS
Where: FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: None
Radio: None
Weather: Partly cloudy, 78 degrees, wind 15 mph right field to left field

NATIONALS
DH Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Asdrúbal Cabrera
C Yan Gomes
LF Mac Williamson
1B Drew Ward
SS Adrián Sanchez
2B Jake Noll
CF Emilio Bonifacio

RHP Wil Crowe

METS
3B Jeff McNeil
CF Brandon Nimmo
DH Pete Alonso
RF Michael Conforto
C Wilson Ramos
1B Dominic Smith
2B Eduardo Nunez
SS Luis Guillorme
LF Johneshwy Fargas

LHP David Peterson