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VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made a switch in their pitching rotation to start the spring. Jordan Zimmermann will now pitch the fourth game of the spring, and Jason Marquis, who was scheduled to pitch that game against the Cardinals, will instead pitch the fifth game of the spring against the Braves.
The Nationals will throw Chad Gaudin in the first game of the spring on Monday, to be followed by Livan Hernandez and John Lannan.
If you're the type that likes to read into things, this could be taken as a sign that Zimmermann, not Marquis, will follow Lannan in the Nationals' rotation. But like we discussed earlier in the week, the fact that the Nationals have two off-days in the first five days of the season means they could set up their rotation a number of different ways.
On this plan, Zimmermann would actually be in line to pitch the second game of the season on regular rest. If Lannan was the No. 2 starter, both he and Zimmermann could pitch on an extra day's rest before the team goes to Florida. Or, the Nationals could cook up something else.
For now, though, the Nationals have Zimmermann pitching in front of Marquis this spring.
