The Day After Strasmas

As the events of June 8, 2010 become historic for most Nationals fans, I still find myself getting chills thinking about the crowd and the events of last night. For anyone that was there, this clip (via Nats Journal) will definitely give you chills.

It seems impossible that anything can top that night, but eventually the season must go on. That night will be tonight (weather pending).

John Lannan is the Nationals scheduled starter for tonight's game. The starter for the Pirates is a kid named Brad Lincoln. Who is Brad Lincoln you may ask? He's Pittsburgh's top pitching prospect. Although nowhere near the anticipated talent of Strasburg. Talk about a weekend of prospects in DC after Harper and Strasburg.

Lincoln was drafted by the Bucs as the #4 overall pick in the 2006 draft out of the University of Houston. He looked to be on the Strasburg fast track to the bigs, but it was marred by an oblique strain in 2006 that required surgery. He took almost 3 seasons to recover. But this year in the Pirates AAA affiliate in Indianapolis, Lincoln is 6-2 with 55 Ks in just over 68 innings and a 3.16 ERA. Well, he's earned his start today, and the Pirates hope for a better result than last night.

If the game goes off tonight, Lannan will look for his first win at Nats Park all season. Last night's excitement might be exactly what the Nats needed to get started and get out of the funk they've been in. They've only won 3 of their last 10 games.

Here are tonight's scheduled home team starters:

1. Guzzie (4)

2. T. Plush (8)

3. Zimm (5)

4. Big Donkey (3)

5. Hammer (7)

6. Bernie (9)

7. Desmond (6)

8. Nieves (2)

9. Lannan (1)