WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals finalized their 2017 roster Sunday morning. They will have 20 of their 25-man roster back from last season, when they captured the National League East division title.
Stephen Strasburg will get the start on Monday, the team’s home opener, as they take on division rival Miami.
Tanner Roark will get the second game of the season on Wednesday, a 7:05 p.m. first pitch followed by Gio Gonzalez, who will get the series finale on Thursday at 4:05 p.m.
The lone lefty in the rotation now getting Max Scherzer’s start, as Scherzer will get Friday’s start in Philadelphia with a 3:05 p.m. first pitch.
The Nationals are going with a four-man rotation to start, but will eventually need a fifth starter next Sunday, April 9 at the Phillies, a 1:35 p.m. start.
The team is expected to call up either right-handed starter Joe Ross or Jeremy Guthrie from AAA-Syracuse.
The bullpen has seven arms, Lefties Enny Romero, Oliver Perez and Sammy Solis along with Righties Joe Blanton, Koda Glover, Shawn Kelley and Closer Blake Treinen, who enters the season with just one major league save in his career.
The teams “bench” players feature outfielders Chris Heisey and Michael Taylor, first-baseman Adam Lind and infielders Wilmer Difo and Stephen Drew, along with backup catcher Jose Lobaton.
Eleven players on the roster are under age 30, with 11 having at least seven years of major league service.
The average age of the team is 30.
Nationals Announce 2017 Opening Day Roster by wtopweb on Scribd