WASHINGTON – A day after clinching the NL East, Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson is giving most of his regular lineup a rest — and saving left-hander Gio Gonzalez for Game 1 of the playoffs.
Gonzalez had been slated to start Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, if the game still mattered for the division title, but reliever Tom Gorzelanny will be Washington's first pitcher instead.
Center fielder Bryce Harper and first baseman Adam LaRoche are the only everyday players in Tuesday's starting lineup, with Johnson sitting third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, right fielder Jayson Werth, left fielder Michael Morse, shortstop Ian Desmond, second baseman Danny Espinosa and catcher Kurt Suzuki.
Johnson says Gonzalez will start the first game of Washington's NL division series, and right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will pitch Game 2.
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