Lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter

Lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter

Anybody want to get weird on March 25? Well, let's get weird!

The Nationals tonight are starting Luis Avilán., a reliever. He will serve as an "opener," pitching the bottom of the first against the Marlins for sure and possibly taking the mound for the bottom of the second as well. He's also batting eighth, and Davey Martinez says if that spot in the lineup comes up before Avilán is done pitching, he'll indeed bat for himself.

Erick Fedde, originally named tonight's starter, will pitch in relief of Avilán, going "a few innings," according to Martinez. Read between the lines all you want, but you do wonder if the Nats are preparing for the growing possibility Fedde (who no longer has any minor league options) will begin the season in the bullpen.

Robles-Bunts-Red-sidebar.jpgMeanwhile, with the pitcher batting eighth, Victor Robles is batting ninth tonight. It's the first time he's hit anything but leadoff this spring. Martinez says he wants to take a look at this arrangement, with Robles essentially still batting in front of both Trea Turner and Juan Soto, just not the first time through the order. He also told Robles not to change anything about the approach he's displayed at the plate over the last month.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. MIAMI MARLINS
Where: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter
Gametime: 6:05 p.m. EDT
TV: None
Radio: 980 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 80 degrees, wind 16 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Juan Soto
1B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Kyle Schwarber
3B Josh Harrison
2B Luis García
C Yan Gomes
LHP Luis Avilán
CF Victor Robles

MARLINS
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
DH Starling Marte
1B Jesús Aguilar
RF Garrett Cooper
3B Brian Anderson
LF Adam Duvall
CF Lewis Brinson
C Jorge Alfaro
SS Miguel Rojas

RHP Sixto Sánchez

Castro MRI shows "very mild strain," Nats trying o...
What to make of Soto's shockingly bad spring numbe...