All eyes and minds are on the Trade Deadline that expires at 4 P.M. Sunday and it has many teams and fans wondering, worrying, hoping and confused. But the Washington Nationals have a job to do and that is try and get a series win against the New York Mets in a Rubber Match game at Nationals Park.
Jordan Zimmermann (6-9, 3.27 ERA) takes the mound against New York's Jon Niese (10-8, 3.97 ERA). Zimmermann has had a stellar season up to the last two starts where he has strangely struggled making some wonder if he is either regressing, injured or just had a run of bad luck. In his last start against the Florida Marlins Zimmermann gave up six runs in 6 2/3 innings in an 11-2 loss.
Outfielder Brian Bixler, recently recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, will take over center field and lead-off duties for the Nationals on Sunday afternoon.
First pitch moves across the plate at 1:35 P.M.
Nationals Line-Up
1. Brian Bixler, CF
2. Ian Desmond, SS
3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
4. Michael Morse, 1B
5. Jayson Werth, RF
6. Danny Espinosa, 2B
7. Jonny Gomes, LF
8. Jesus Flores, C
9. Jordan Zimmermann, SP