The lineups for tonight’s game against the Pirates at 7:05 p.m. on MASN2-HD/MLB Network and 1500 AM/XM 175.
| Pirates | Nationals | |
| McCutchen – CF Walker – 2B Milledge – LF Jones – 1B Young – RF LaRoche – 3B Cedeno – SS Jaramillo – C Karstens – P |
Guzman – 2B Morgan – CF Zimmerman – 3B Dunn – 1B Willingham – LF Rodriguez – C Bernadina – RF Desmond – SS Strasburg – P |
Before the game, the Nats recalled RHP Stephen Strasburg from Syracuse (as you might’ve heard) and C Pudge Rodriguez from his rehab stint. The team designated C Jamie Burke for assignment.
Nats manager Jim Riggleman had a lot to say about the event that is Strasburg’s debut:
What’s it like to have this kind of hoopla » “I’ve never been fortunate enough to have a team [in the World Series], but Stan Kasten … says that’s what it’s like here.”
How’s Strasburg feeling » “He’s great. I don’t mean to laugh, but I feel like we’re talking about a horse at the Kentcky Derby, about how he is in the gate. I think he would’ve like to come here a little more anonymously.”
How big of a deal is it for Pudge to come back for Strasburg’s debut » “I think it’s going to be something that, hopefully, 15-20 years from now when Stephen’s career is over – I hope he pitches a long time – he can look back and look at that lineup card and see that Pudge was the catcher that day and it will mean a lot to him and his children someday that Pudge Rodriguez was the catcher in his first game.”
Why has Strasburg’s debut garnered so much attention nationally » “After the 08 draft, the day that draft was over, people said Stephen Strasburg was gonna be the first guy in 09. So there was that year, and he gets picked and now it’s a year later – it’s been building for two years.”
How excited are you to have Strasburg on the club » “I’m excited because it’s talent. You like to add talent to the ball club. This is a talented person that’s got a chance to be here for a long time. You add Drew Storen at the same time … . You look out there and see Zimmerman and Desmond and you start to say, ‘Well, you know what, we got some potential not just guys who can help us here [now], but guys that can help us for a long time and be All-Star caliber players.”
What did you say to Strasburg today » “I don’t really have much to say to him … I’d imagine most of what’s being said to him is going in one ear and out the other. It’s the magnitude of it … I just basically wished him luck and reminded him that this one’s 60 feet-6 inches just like [the pitching distance at] Syracuse. So, I think he’s going to be fine.”
