St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Stephen Strasburg won't be one of them, but
the Washington Nationals will carry 12 pitchers on their active roster for
their National League Division Series showdown with the defending World Series
champion St. Louis Cardinals.
Gio Gonzalez, the 21-game winner who will take the ball for Washington in
Sunday's Game 1 at Busch Stadium, headlines the list of hurlers that will also
include starters Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler, closer
Drew Storen, right-handed relievers Tyler Clippard, Ryan Mattheus, Craig
Stammen and Christian Garcia and lefty relievers Sean Burnett, Michael
Gonzalez and Tom Gorzelanny.
Strasburg, of course, was shut down by the Nationals in early September after
the prized right-hander neared the team's imposed innings limit in his first
full season back from Tommy John surgery.
The position player breakdown will include six infielders, five outfielders
and two catchers.
First baseman Adam LaRoche, second baseman Danny Espinosa, shortstop Ian
Desmond, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and reserves Chad Tracy and Steve
Lombardozzi will comprise the infield group, with bench players Tyler Moore
and Roger Bernadina joining Michael Morse, Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth in
the outfield corps. Kurt Suzuki and Jesus Flores will be the catchers.
Zimmermann is scheduled to start Game 2 on Monday, with the ex-Cardinal
Jackson tabbed for Game 3 when the series shifts to Washington on Wednesday.
The Sports Network