With Jarred Kelenic still recuperating from the wrist issue he suffered on a diving catch up in Boston, the Braves are giving 28-year-old outfielder J.P. Martinez a start for the first time this season.
Martinez hasn’t really hit at all anywhere, so the real advantage he has is batting left-handed. Even though Nationals scheduled starter Jake Irvin has been really good this year, he’s had less success against left-handed batters. Martinez, though, has a 43 career wRC+ and had a 90 wRC+ at Triple-A Gwinnett prior to his callup.
The Braves also continue to hit Sean Murphy behind Orlando Arcia, which, I really don’t get. But, Murphy continues to replicate the early-season grounderitis his teammates all suffered from while he was recuperating from his oblique injury, so oh well, I guess.
The Nationals, who are apparently not fans of capitalization, will deploy the following against Chris Sale:
It’s pretty similar lineup to what we’ve seen from them in the past, with Ildemaro Vargas starting at the keystone because Luis Garcia Jr. hits left-handed and Chris Sale throws left-handed. Drew Millas starts at catcher in what will be his 13th career start. The Nationals haven’t actually used this lineup or starting nine before, and a few guys in this arrangement have only hit in today’s spot in the batting order once before this season.
