Dave Martinez couldn’t have imagined writing out Sunday’s lineup card for Game 89 this season, the Washington Nationals’ final contest before the first half of the season gave way to the All-Star break.
There was Alcides Escobar, batting first and hitting leadoff. Tres Barrera was behind the plate catching. Neither player was in Washington’s plans at the major-league level once the Nationals concluded spring training camp, and Escobar wasn’t even with the organization at that point. But then again, very little about Washington’s first half to the 2021 season could be planned for or anticipated.