(Jeff Roberson / AP)
The Nationals offered few, if any, surprises with either their roster or rotation for the National League Division Series against the Cardinals. They will carry an eighth reliever, right-hander Christian Garcia, and rookie Tyler Moore to add power off the bench. That means removing left-hander John Lannan and veteran Mark DeRosa for at least the first round.
“There were some tough decision,” Manager Davey Johnson said.
As expected, the Nationals will start Gio Gonzalez in Game 1 on Sunday and follow him, in order, with Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler. Johnson had suggested he would place Jackson in front of Detwiler against the Cardinals’ right-handed heavy lineup.
The Cardinals drilled Jackson for nine runs in St. Louis as he recorded just four outs only eight days ago. But Johnson wanted Jackson, the only Nationals’ starter to pitch in the postseason and a member of last year’s world champion Cardinals, to throw before Detwiler. Interestingly, Johnson said he also would have gone with Jackson as his No. 3 starter even if the Nationals faced the predominantly left-handed Braves’ lineup.
“I kind of like the experience that Edwin Jackson brings,” Johnson said. “So I probably, even if it had been Atlanta, I would have probably gone with Jackson.”
Garcia, a September call-up, has impressed in his brief tenure. He has allowed three earned runs and struck out 15 in 12 2/3 innings. Johnson may have considered Lannan if the Nationals had faced off against the Braves, but against the Cardinals’ right-handed mashers he became somewhat obsolete.
DeRosa has played well in recent, infrequent playing time, going 6 for his last 17, mostly as a pinch-hitter. Moore, though, provides much more of a power threat, having clubbed 10 homers in 156 at-bats.
The Nationals brought along most of the players left off their off their active roster. Stephen Strasburg, Zach Duke, Chien-Ming Wang, DeRosa and Lannan all traveled. Even catcher Wilson Ramos, out since May with a torn ACL, came with the Nationals to soak up the experience.
The Nationals sent outfielders Corey Brown and Eury Perez and catcher Sandy Leon to Viera, Fla., to stay fresh and work out in case they are needed in an ensuing series.
Here is the Nationals’ 25-man NLDS roster:
ROTATION
1. Gio Gonzalez
2. Jordan Zimmermann
3. Edwin Jackson
4. Ross Detwiler
BULLPEN
5. Drew Storen
6. Tyler Clippard
7. Sean Burnett
8. Craig Stammen
9. Christian Garcia
10. Tom Gorzelanny
11. Michael Gonzalez
12. Ryan Mattheus
LINEUP
13. Jayson Werth
14. Bryce Harper
15. Ryan Zimmerman
16. Adam LaRoche
17. Michael Morse
18. Ian Desmond
19. Danny Espinosa
20. Kurt Suzuki
BENCH
21. Tyler Moore
22. Steve Lombardozzi
23. Roger Bernadina
24. Chad Tracy
25. Jesus Flores
