The Washington Nationals are set to face off with the NL East Division Champion Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday afternoon in a doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park. Game 1 kicks off at 1:05 P.M. as part of a make up game between the two teams after a rain out on August 14th.
Three hours before game time the Nationals made a starting pitcher switch. Rookie pitcher Tom Milone will now be pitching the first game on Tuesday while fellow southpaw Ross Detwiler will be taking care of the nightcap. Milone is 1-0 with a 4.60 ERA in three games in 2011. His last outing was against the New York Mets where he went five innings, giving up one run on three hits. He walked three and struck out four. Milone will need his best stuff and watch the walks as the Phillies field a potent line up that would be more than happy to ravage a rookie NL East pitcher.
For the first game of the doubleheader the Nats will be throwing a relatively young line up against the Phillies that almost looks like a Spring Training-type line up. Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth and Michael Morse have all been given the day game off. Rookie Steve Lombardozzi will be playing third base for Zimmerman while rookie first baseman Chris Marrero will be batting clean up. Laynce Nix fills in the left field spot for Morse.
Milone and the Nationals fresh line up will be squaring off against Philadelphia's Kyle Kendrick (8-6, 3.22 ERA).
Nationals Line Up
Ian Desmond - SS
Roger Bernadina - RF
Rick Ankiel - CF
Chris Marrero - 1B
Laynce Nix - LF
Danny Espinosa - 2B
Jesus Flores - C
Steve Lombardozzi - 3B
Tommy Milone - SP