The Washington Nationals wrap up the first half of the 2012 season with a Sunday afternoon game against the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park. A majority of the team will then have a few days off during the All-Star break to rest and recharge their batteries, before continuing a pennant push in less than a week. Washington is sending two starting pitchers to the All-Star game in Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez, and their participation in the Midsummer Classic likely will cause Nats manager Davey Johnson to shuffle his rotation in the second half of the season. Via Chase Hughes of CSNwashington.com:
Davey said probably a rotation order of Zimmermann, Gio, Strasburg, then Jackson + Detwiler after ASG. Depends on all-star use. #Nats
— Chase Hughes (@chasehughes) July 8, 2012
As Hughes notes, this is dependent on how, if at all, Strasburg and Gonzalez are used by National League manager Tony LaRussa in the All Star Game. Johnson and GM Mike Rizzo would probably breathe a sigh of relief if neither took the hill, but that is highly unlikely.
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