Regeln » The Washington Nationals will enter the offseason with thre

WASHINGTON — e-fifths of their 2019 starting rotation likely in place.Right-hander Joe Ross is looking to fill one of the two remaining spots.Friday night against the Cubs Drew Robinson Jersey , Ross will make his first start in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery 14 months ago. Ross made his major league debut against the Cubs in 2015.Article continues below ...“It feels great. It’s been a long time this year. Watching from down in Florida’s kind of tough, but I’m glad to be back and glad to get an opportunity this Friday to get a start again,” Ross said earlier this week. “It’s kind of debut No. 2 against the Cubs. I’m excited.”Ross, 25, was acquired from the Padres in December of 2014 with a player to be named later — Trea Turner — as part of a three-team trade that saw Washington send Steven Souza and Travis Ott to Tampa Bay. Ross was 17-13 with a 3.95 ERA in 48 games from 2015 to July of 2017 before having surgery.Now, after six minor league rehab starts, he returns to face left-hander Jon Lester (15-5, 3.53 ERA).“Just kind of compete. You know, go throw strikes and do what I’ve always done, challenge batters,” Ross said of his expectations for Friday. “The last thing I want to do is get that high pitch count early in the game. So, just be aggressive and try and get outs and trust the defense.”With Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Tanner Roark set to return, Ross will be among the young Nationals pitchers looking to break into the 2018 rotation, but Ross said he is not focusing on proving his worth necessarily over the next few weeks.“Obviously, No. 1 is being healthy, so as long as I can finish the rest of this year and feel good and strong then that’s fine with me,” he said. “But inside I want to compete and when I go out and pitch I’m going to try and win the game so it’s not really try and prove my worth to the team in the last 30 days, I just want to go out there and win games.”Lester will start in Washington for the first time since the 2017 NL Division Series. He is 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA in seven career regular-season starts against the Nationals. Lester was 0-0 with a 1.86 ERA in two appearances, including one start, in the 2017 NL Division Series against Washington.Lester hasn’t lost since Aug. 11 when the Nationals pounded him for nine runs (eight earned) in 3 2/3 innings at Wrigley Field. In his last start, Lester gave up eight hits but threw six shutout innings in a win against the Phillies on Sunday. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning and retired six of the final seven batters.“When it gets a little tight, and you’ve got a lead, he makes really good pitches http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-moore-jersey ,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon told the Chicago Tribune. “He made good pitches when he had to.”In Thursday’s series opener, Chicago’s David Bote did it to the Nationals again, driving in the go-ahead run with a double in the 10th inning off reliever Jimmy Cordero as the Cubs (83-57) won 6-4. On Aug. 12 at Wrigley Field, he delivered a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to hand the Cubs a 4-3 win. The Cubs boast the best record in the National League and lead the Central Division by 4 1/2 games.Washington (69-72) has lost three straight to fall three games below .500 for the first time since April 30. Bryce Harper meets with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the very next day, a Brinks truck is parked right outside the team’s spring training complex.Coincidence or correlation?With the first full week of exhibition games on deck, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed he joined club executives in meeting with Harper in Las Vegas on Sunday night.Roberts said it was a good session and gave the sides a chance to “get to know each other.” Roberts says the Dodgers were “vetting a certain process.”Harper has been connected to the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants during a second consecutive slow free-agent market for the sport. Manny Machado, the other top free agent this winter, signed a $300 million, 10-year deal with the San Diego Padres on Thursday.The 26-year-old Harper was the 2015 NL MVP and made six All-Star teams in seven big league seasons with the Washington Nationals. He batted .249 with 34 home runs, 100 RBIs and an .889 OPS last season.FROM AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESBRAVES 9, NATIONALS 4Patrick Corbin, who signed a $140 million, six-year contract, made the 2½-hour bus ride to start for Washington. He allowed one hit in two innings, struck out two and walked none.Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer. Catcher Alex Jackson, the sixth overall pick by Seattle in 2014, doubled and drove in two runs for Atlanta.Juan Soto doubled and drove in two runs for the Nats.METS 3, ASTROS 3, 9 INNINGSJustin Verlander pitched two perfect innings, striking out one and getting five flyball outs. Reaching 96 mph, Verlander threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes, concentrating on his changeup and pitching inside to right-handed batters.New York’s Noah Syndergaard opened with three consecutive 98 mph fastballs and allowed first-inning hits to George Springer and Josh Reddick. Syndergaard struck out the final two hitters of his two-inning outing, including Robinson Chirinos on a 99 mph fastball.David Thompson hit a three-run homer off Houston’s Kent Emanuel.YANKEES 3, BLUE JAYS 0James Paxton made his Yankees debut http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-moore-jersey , working two innings and combining with five relievers on a one-hitter. Troy Tulowitzki went deep in his first at-bat as a Yankee, homering off former Toronto teammates Marcus Stroman. Aaron Judge doubled in his spring training debut.Stroman gave up two homers in his spring debut for Toronto. Teoscar Hernandez, considered a project for new manager Charlie Montoyo, collected the lone hit, then promptly stole second.TWINS 7, ORIOLES 1Mike Yastrzemski, a 28-year-old grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski who has played six seasons in the minor leagues, entered in the sixth inning for the Orioles. He played center field and flied out in his only at-bat.Byron Buxton singled, doubled and homered to drive in five runs for Minnesota.Eric Young Jr. homered for Baltimore.TIGERS (SS) 3, CARDINALS 3, 9 INNINGSMiguel Cabrera singled and drove in a run for the Tigers. Daz Cameron, a 22-year-old son of former major league center fielder Mike Cameron, started in center field and went 1 for 2 with a double.Jose Martinez, the son of Carlos Martinez, walked and singled for St. Louis.PHILLIES 12, TIGERS (SS) 7Jean Segura, acquired in a December trade with Seattle, had two hits and scored twice. Philadelphia newcomers Andrew McCutcheon and J.T. Realmuto each singled and scored a run. James Pazos, obtained along with Segura trade, won in relief.Jordan Zimmermann struck out four in two innings the Tigers. Christin Stewart, selected 34th overall by in the 2015 amateur draft, homered.MARLINS 5, RAYS 0Jon Berti, a non-roster invitee Curtis Granderson Jersey , tripled for Miami. Austin Dean had two hits and two RBIs.Brandon Lowe and Joe McCarthy each had two hits for Tampa Bay.PIRATES 4, RED SOX 3Pittsburgh starter Jordan Lyles pitched two innings, giving up a solo home run to Bryce Brentz. Melky Cabrera doubled for Pittsburgh.ROCKIES 12, ROYALS 5Mark Reynolds hit a grand slam for Colorado. Bubba Starling hit a pair of solo home runs and Jorge Soler also connected for Kansas City.RANGERS 11, INDIANS 5Mike Minor, a 12-game winner last year, started for Texas and gave up a home run in two innings. Danny Santana tripled and drove in two runs.Trevor Bauer worked three innings in his spring debut for the Indians.WHITE SOX 4, GIANTS 4, 9 INNINGSChicago starter Manny Banuelos struck out four in two innings. Yoan Moncada had two hits, drove in a run and scored.Derek Holland had a rough one-inning spring debut, allowing three runs on three hits for San Francisco. Drew Pomeranz threw two innings out of the bullpen, giving up a pair of hits and striking out two. Yangervis Solarte homered.DODGERS 11, CUBS (SS) 2Justin Turner homered and drove in three runs with three hits, scoring three times for Los Angeles.Trent Giambrone doubled and homered for Chicago.CUBS (SS) 6, PADRES 4Wil Myers singled and highly regarded shortstop prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. had a hit and scored a run. Ty France, drafted in the 34th round out of San Diego State, homered.Willson Contreras hit a three-run homer for the Cubs and Jon Lester struck out three in his two-inning spring debut.ANGELS 4, BREWERS 3Jarrett Parker homered and walked twice for the Angels. Julian Leon doubled and drove in two runs.Third baseman Cory Spangenberg, starting at short, homered for the Brewers.MARINERS 11, REDS 3Yusei Kikuchi made his spring training debut, working two innings for Seattle. The nine-year Japanese league veteran lefty struck out Joey Votto on a 2-2 curveball the veteran slugger missed. Edwin Encarnacion doubled and 2016 first-round draft pick Kyle Lewis homered. Domingo Santana added a two-run homer for the Mariners.Cincinnati starter Alex Wood gave up three runs in one inning.DIAMONDBACKS 4, ATHLETICS 3Zack Greinke made his spring debut and worked two clean innings for Arizona.Dustin Fowler homered and Cliff Pennington and Nick Martini each had two hits for Oakland.