Nationals' Spring Lineup: Butera's Vision for Opening Day

0:00You're listening to Washington Nationals News today. Subscribe now for fast, daily updates on your team. The Washington Nationals picked up a 5-1 win over Venezuela in a spring exhibition game on Wednesday night. That team is prepping for the World Baseball Classic. What stood out was manager Blake Boutera's lineup, which looked a lot like a preview for opening day against the Chicago Cubs on March 26th. The infield setup seemed locked in with Nessine Nunez at second base. CJ Abrams at shortstop. Luis Garcia Jr. sliding over to first base and Brady. House at third, Garcia handled first base smoothly in the game, signaling the team is ready for that shift to boost middle infield defense. Out in the field, James Wood and left, Dailin Lyle and right, and Dylan Cruz in center offer huge offensive potential. But it comes with defensive risks, especially from Lyle and Wood, who have struggled with the glove in the past. Cruz will need to anchor center while contributing at the plate. Catcher is still up in the air between Caper Ruiz and Harry Ford, who missed the game

1:03due to World Baseball Classic duties with great Britain. On the mound, expect Kay Kavalli to start if he stays healthy, stepping up as the rotation ace after the Mackenzie Gorge trade. Spring training has plenty of time left, so things could shift. Still, this lineup hints at Boutera's early vision, balancing young bats with some tough defensive choices for the season ahead. These stories made possible by our sponsor, see the episode description. Soley Pillow is a pillow with built-in headphones, lay back, press play, and disappear into what you're listening to, S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com.