Game 146 lineups: Nats at Pirates

PITTSBURGH – It’s been an exciting day for the Nationals so far after they officially announced a multi-year contract extension with longtime general manager Mike Rizzo this morning. The excitement continues tonight with the debut of a top prospect.

Jackson Rutledge will make his major league debut tonight as the starting pitcher for the Nationals. The 2019 first-round pick, who dealt with various injuries to begin his professional career, is 8-4 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.269 WHIP in 119 innings over 23 starts this year between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester, his first time reaching the upper levels of the minor league system.

A former top prospect and currently the Nationals’ No. 7 prospect per Baseball America and No. 13 per MLB Pipeline, the big right-hander will be the 10th player and sixth pitcher to make his major league debut with the Nats this season. He follows Thaddeus Ward, Hobie Harris, Jake Irvin, Jake Alu, Amos Willingham, Jose A. Ferrer, Blake Rutherford, Jacob Young and Drew Millas.

The Nationals have optioned Mason Thompson to Triple-A Rochester to make room for Rutledge on the active roster.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Where: PNC Park
Gametime: 6:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 70 degrees, wind 8 mph out to center field

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
RF Lane Thomas
1B Dominic Smith
DH Joey Meneses
LF Travis Blankenhorn
2B Luis García
C Drew Millas
3B Jake Alu
CF Jacob Young

RHP Jackson Rutledge

PIRATES
CF Ji Hwan Bae
LF Bryan Reynolds
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
DH Jack Suwinski
C Endy Rodríguez
RF Joshua Palacios
SS Liover Peguero 
1B Alfonso Rivas
2B Jared Triolo

RHP Colin Selby