Nats start short-handed vs. Braves
A look at what’s happening around the majors Tuesday:
The Washington Nationals are finally set to start their season, hosting the Atlanta Braves after their three-game series against the New York Mets was postponed by a coronavirus outbreak.
The Nats still have 11 players sidelined — four of whom tested positive for COVID-19. The Nationals haven’t announced who is in isolation because of test results or which additional seven players are under quarantine because contact tracing determined they could have been exposed to the illness.
Asked whether it’s possible his Game 1 lineup for 2021 could feature as many as five starting position players that weren’t expected to be there on opening day, manager Dave Martinez replied: “It is possible. We’re going to make it work.”
Washington’s active players practiced Monday — a group that included Game 1 starter Max Scherzer, outfielders Juan Soto and Victor Robles and third baseman Starlin Castro.
ROUGH START: Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 7.94) is hoping to rebound from a miserable opening day, when he allowed six runs — five earned — over 5⅓ innings at Colorado. His second start comes at Oakland, which hit .171 as a team while being swept over four games by Houston to start the season. Right-hander Chris Bassitt (0-1, 5.06) is up for the A’s.
BIG MAPLE’S RETURN: James Paxton is back with the Mariners and will make his first start in Seattle since being traded ahead of the 2019 season. Hampered in 2020 by a left flexor strain, Paxton hopes to return to ace form on an $8.5 million, oneyear deal with the franchise where he established himself from 2013-18. The big left-hander will face White Sox ace Lucas Giolito (0-0, 3.38).