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WEST PALM, FL - Today, the Washington Nationals tied in today’s split-squad doubleheader, playing two games in the final days of Spring Training.

The Washington Nationals tied with the St. Louis Cardinals 2-2 in the afternoon game. In the early evening game, the Washington Nationals faced off against the visiting Miami Marlins.

Game 1: Nationals 2 - Cardinals 2

In the first game of a split-squad doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Nationals and the Cardinals ended the game with a 2-2 tie.

The Nationals headed into the bottom of the ninth inning up 2-0. However, thanks to an Alec Burleson single on a line drive to right fielder Johnathon Thomas, scoring Bryan Torres, and a Thomas Saggese double on a fly ball to center fielder Victor Robles, which scored Nick Dunn, the St. Louis Cardinals were able to tie the game.

The only Nationals prospect still in the majors, Trey Lipscomb, went 3-for-4 today and is batting .396 with a .995 OPS in this year’s spring training. He has seven RBIs, one home run, one stolen base, and 19 hits over 48 at-bats.

Even Davey Martinez has noticed Lipscomb's great play. "Hey, it is spring training. But he is hitting the ball hard,” Martinez said in a media interview after the game this afternoon. “And what I love about him is he doesn’t try to do too much. He stays in the middle of the field. He stays on breaking balls really well. He hits fastballs. The kid plays the game the right way.” It looks more and more like Lipscomb might be part of the opening-day roster for the Washington Nationals.

RHP Jake Irvin pitched six innings, striking out three and allowing only one hit in what could be his last spring training appearance for the Nationals this year.

Over his final three starts during this spring training, Jake Irvin pitched 15 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out 13. Irvin has a 3.38 ERA during this year’s spring training and seems to have solidified his position in the rotation and in the opening-day roster.

Game 2: Marlins 5 - Nationals 3

In the second and early evening game, Washington Nationals Opening Day starter RHP Joisah Gray had his final tune-up before opening day in Cincinnati. Gray went four innings, striking out seven and giving up five runs over seven hits. He will finish the 2024 spring training with an ERA of 6.61, a WHIP of 1.86, and a record of 1-2, with 25 strikeouts and 13 walks.

On the offensive side, shortstop C.J. Abrams went 3-for-4 with a home run, RBI, run scored, and stolen base. Abrams ended the night with a batting average of .286 and a slugging percentage of .469. Joey Meneses hit his second home run of spring training on a fly ball to left-center field, scoring Eddie Rosario in the bottom of the first inning to kick off the scoring for the Nationals. Abram’s home run right after Meneses’ would be the only scoring that the Nationals were able to muster this evening in West Palm.

Next, the Washington Nationals will travel to St. Lucie, Florida, to face the New York Mets. LHP Patrick Corbin will take the mound in his final spring training game of the 2024 season. Corbin is 2-1 with a 5.11 ERA this spring training. Corbin is slated to start the Nationals' second game of the 2024 regular season against the Reds.

Other Washington Nationals news

A New Era in Washington D.C. Besides the fact that Josiah Gray will be getting the Opening Day start for the Washington Nationals on the road, it also looks like there will be a new home opening day starter for the Nationals for the first time in a while. LHP Mackenzie Gore will be getting the start for the Washington Nationals Home Opener on Monday, April 1st, when the Nationals host the Pittsburgh Pirates. Throughout Spring Training, Gore appeared in four games, pitching 15.1 innings and maintaining an ERA of 5.87. He also recorded 19 strikeouts. For the 2023 season, Gore held a record of 7-10 with an ERA of 4.45. He appeared in 43 games, pitched 206.1 innings, struck out 223 batters, and maintained a WHIP of 1.42.

Roster Cuts and Minor League Assignments. The team made some news yesterday by cutting some of their prospects and sending them to the minors. While the Nationals haven’t finalized or announced any minor league rosters yet, Manager Davey Martinez did say he expects top outfield prospect James Wood to open this year with Triple-A Rochester. That would include James Wood, who led all qualified major league hitters with a 1.198 OPS this spring and spent more time last season at Double-A Harrisburg than fellow prospects Dylan Crews and Brady House.

“Wood is probably going to go to Triple-A and just continue to get better,” Martinez said. “This kid is really good. I just want him to get at-bats. I tell him all the time just to continue to take his walks, get the ball up when he hits, and just try to play the best defense he can. He’s going to play center, he’s going to play left. I told him on occasion he might play right field. I want him to be ready at all three.”

Trevor Williams was named to the starting pitching rotation. Manager Davey Martinez said Trevor Williams would open the season in the Nationals’ pitching rotation. “It was a tough choice, a tough decision,” manager Davey Martinez said. “We decided we were going to go with Trevor as our fifth starter. So Trevor will be our fifth starter. … Zach was a professional. He’s a good guy. I wish him all the best. And hopefully, he gets picked up somewhere. But Trevor’s done well. I think he deserves a chance, at least at the beginning, to start. And then we’ll see where it goes from there.”

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