Going into the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader in D.C., Washington Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez said he was excited to see 24-year-old, 2019 Nationals’ 19 first round draft pick Jackson Rutledge go up against an Atlanta Braves’ roster which started the day with a major league-leading .276/.343/.502 line as a team, tops in the majors across the line.
For the rookie right-hander, Martinez said, it would be a great test.
“Oh, 100%,” he said in his pregame press conference in Nationals Park.
“This is a tough lineup 1-9. But I really feel like if [he] can throw strikes [he] can handle it.