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Strasburg, not Gonzalez, gets Game 2 for Nationals at Braves

FILE - In this March 5, 2016, file photo, Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws between innings during a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
FILE - In this March 5, 2016, file photo, Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws between innings during a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) FILE - In this March 5, 2016, file photo, Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws between innings during a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

By Associated Press 3 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Stephen Strasburg will start the second game of the season for the Nationals at the Atlanta Braves, a switch from Washington’s original plan.

Nationals manager Dusty Baker had said during spring training that Gio Gonzalez would pitch Game 2 in Atlanta on Wednesday. Strasburg had been scheduled to pitch Thursday for the Nationals Park home opener against the Miami Marlins.

“We changed it around,” Baker said before Washington’s exhibition finale on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins.

The Nationals will begin the season with Max Scherzer facing the Braves on Monday for opening day. After a day off, Strasburg – the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft who can become a free agent after this season – will follow on Wednesday.

Strasburg doesn’t have the best track record at Atlanta’s Turner Field, which is shutting after this season: His 4.79 ERA in nine starts there is much higher than the 3.02 ERA he has in 10 starts against the Braves in Washington and his overall career ERA of 3.09 against all opponents.