An off day last Thursday gave the Nationals an opportunity to switch things up a bit so that rookie starter, Mitchell Parker could get an extra day of rest, and take on the Atlanta Braves in the opener of Washington’s series in Truist Park.
“I just wanted to give Parker an extra day,” Martinez explained, as quoted by MASN’s Bobby Blanco before the first game with the Mariners last Friday.
“You know, he hasn’t done this (starting every five days in the majors). So I thought it’d be nice to give him an extra day.