Game Information

Matchup: Fredericksburg Nationals (2-3) vs. Fayetteville Woodpeckers (3-1)
Pitching Matchup: LHP Jake Bennett (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Andrew Taylor (2023 debut)
Game Info: Thursday, April 13, 2023, | 7:05 p.m. ET | Game 6 of 132
Location: Segra Stadium – Fayetteville, NC

Fredericksburg Nationals Story Line

After narrowly dropping the series opener and getting thumped last night, the FredNats are still searching for their first road win of the season at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville. Tonight, the Fredericksburg Nationals send Opening Day starter Jake Bennett to the mound for his second start of the year after he completely dominated Lynchburg in the season opener to the tune of five shutout innings with eight strikeouts.

The lefty from Oklahoma faced just one over the minimum in his start, and the only base runner he allowed was an infield single. The FredNats have mustered just two runs in each of the first two games of the trip to Fayetteville.

What you need to know

• Washington Nationals prospect Robert Hassell III is expected to make his 2023 debut tonight in a rehab assignment with the FredNats after being scratched from the lineup last night due to a flight delay.
• After suffering the franchise's worst loss since 2021 last night in Fayetteville, the FredNats will try to get back in the series with the Woodpeckers tonight behind Opening Night starter Jake Bennett.
• Bennett faced one over the minimum in five shutout innings in a dominant performance against the Lynchburg Hillcats last Friday and will look to slow down a Fayetteville offense that scored 15 runs last night.
• The 2023 FredNats Opening Day roster is loaded with young talent as the Washington organization continues to rebuild. Fredericksburg features eight of the top 30 Nationals prospects (according to MLB Pipeline) on the Opening Day roster, including four of the top nine prospects. 2022 first-round draft pick Elijah Green leads the way at No. 3, 2021 first-rounder Brady House is No. 5, Jarlin Susana is No. 6, and 2022 second-rounder Jake Bennett slots in at No. 9. Other top-30 prospects on the Opening Day roster include Armando Cruz (No. 14), Daylen Lile (No. 16), Roismar Quintana (No. 17), and Brenner Cox (No. 23). All but one of those prospects was either drafted by the Nationals or signed internationally by Washington, with Susana being the lone exception as he came over from San Diego in the Juan Soto trade last August.
• In the two seasons Jake Lowery has managed the FredNats, this is the first time since Opening Weekend 2022 that the Frednats have been under .500. The team lost 2 out of 3 games last year in the opening series of the season, but after that, was never below .500. Today, the FredNats are 2-3 and will try to get back to .500