Dodgers-Nats postponed; twin bill Saturday
Wieters to be examined by team doctors; Murphy close to playing at extended spring training
WASHINGTON -- Rain washed away yet another game at Nationals Park when Friday's game between the Nationals and Dodgers was postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Saturday, with the rescheduled game starting at 2:05 p.m. ET and the regularly scheduled game following at 8:05 p.m. ET.
It's the second consecutive game at Nationals Park postponed as record rainfall continues to dampen the D.C. area. Tuesday's game against the Yankees was suspended in the sixth inning and Wednesday's game had to be rescheduled. Combine that with scheduled off-days on Monday and Thursday, and the Nats have played just 5 1/2 innings in the past five days. They most recently completed a game on Sunday in Arizona.
"The one day off was nice, our bullpen could use it," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "But now it's getting a little bit to where we want to play. The weather's not cooperating, but that's out of our hands."
Fans with tickets for Friday's postponed game can attend the first game of Saturday's split-doubleheader or exchange their ticket for any other 2018 regular-season game (excluding July 2-4 against the Red Sox), but the exchange must occur before the start of the rescheduled game.
Tanner Roark, pitching on nine days' rest, will take the mound for the first game on Saturday afternoon against the Dodgers, dueling right-hander Thomas Stripling. Then Max Scherzer, pitching on seven days' rest, will take the ball for the second game against left-hander Rich Hill.
"They're itching to play," Martinez said. "They want to play, but we can't do [anything] about the weather."
Worth noting
• Catcher Matt Wieters underwent left hamstring surgery in Fort Worth, Texas, on Wednesday, but he had not yet rejoined the team in Washington after his flight was delayed. They expect him to return Saturday, when he will be further examined by team doctors.
• Second baseman Daniel Murphy returned to West Palm Beach, Fla., this week, but he has yet to play in a game because of an illness. Martinez was hopeful he would feel better and be able to play four or five innings in an extended spring training game on Saturday.