Starting lineups: Nats vs. Red Sox in West Palm Beach on MASN

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – If everything goes as planned, Jackson Rutledge probably isn’t going to make the Nationals’ Opening Day rotation. But if everything goes as the team hopes, Rutledge could join the rotation at some point this season and, ideally, pitch well enough to stay.

The 2019 first-round pick made his long-awaited debut last September, his path to the majors having been slowed by injuries and struggles on the mound. The tall right-hander had a rocky first start but then acquitted himself well after that and came to camp this spring feeling better about his long-term prospects.

Rutledge already showed well in a two-inning relief appearance here Saturday. Today, he’ll get a chance to start a Grapefruit League game for the first time, facing a lineup full of guys wearing Red Sox jerseys. Technically, these are the Boston Red Sox, but if you glance at that lineup, you’re not going to see a lot of guys who are going to open the season in Boston.

The Nationals’ lineup is a mixture of regulars, bench players and kids. Dylan Crews and Drew Millas are the two prospects starting today, though James Wood and Robert Hassell III are scheduled to come off the bench. Also scheduled to pitch in relief are Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey and DJ Herz.

And the best news of all: You can watch today’s game live on MASN at 1 p.m.!

(UPDATE: Nick Senzel has been scratched from the lineup. He's still dealing with the illness that sidelined him a few days ago, as is Keibert Ruiz. Ildemaro Vargas will now play third base.)

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. BOSTON RED SOX
Where: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EST
TV: MASN, MLB.tv (outside D.C. market)
Radio: MLB.com (Red Sox’s feed)
Weather: Partly cloudy, 79 degrees, wind 14 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
3B Nick Senzel CF Victor Robles
DH Jesse Winker
1B Joey Gallo
RF Dylan Crews
2B Luis García Jr.
CF Victor Robles 3B Ildemaro Vargas
C Drew Millas
LF Alex Call

RHP Jackson Rutledge

RED SOX
2B David Hamilton
CF Ceddanne Rafaela
RF Wilyer Abreu
3B Bobby Dalbec
1B Pablo Reyes
DH Jamie Westbrook
SS Romy González
LF Mark Contreras
C Mark Kolozsravy

RHP Josh Winckowski