The Washington Nationals and New York Mets are out of any talks for playoff contention in 2011, but that doesn't mean Saturday night's game at Nationals Park won't be interesting. For the second time in little over a week a Nationals player will be making his MLB debut. This time around it is pitcher Tom Milone (0-0 0.00 ERA).
Milone, the Nationals' 10th-round Draft pick in 2008, was 12-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 24 starts while striking out 155 in 148 1/3 innings for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. He has slowly started to make waves moving up the the Nationals prospect chart and it has all accumulated into his Saturday debut. Milone's first major league opponent will be New York's Dillon Gee (12-5 4.24 ERA).
Second baseman Danny Espinosa returns to the line up Saturday after a day off and Jayson Werth returns to the center field spot as Roger Bernadina mans right field.
The Nationals made some other personnel moves on Saturday. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez was reinstated from the DL while first baseman Adam LaRoche was transferred to the 60-Day DL.
First pitch is 7:05 P.M.
Nationals
Ian Desmond, SS
Roger Bernadina, RF
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
Michael Morse, LF
Jayson Werth, CF
Danny Espinosa, 2B
Chris Marrero, 1B
Jesus Flores, C
Tom Milone, LHP
Mets
Jose Reyes, SS
Justin Turner, 2B
Lucas Duda, RF
David Wright, 3B
Angel Pagan, CF
Jason Bay, LF
Nick Evans, 1B
Ronny Paulino, C
Dillon Gee, RHP