Baker gets Classic update on Roark, Murphy
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Nationals manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Mike Maddux received phone calls from Team USA manager Jim Leyland and pitching coach Jeff Jones, to help ease their concerns about Daniel Murphy and Tanner Roark's lack of playing time in the World Baseball Classic.
Roark, who is scheduled to start Tuesday night's semifinal against Japan (9 ET, live on MLB.TV and MLB Network), has thrown only 1 1/3 innings in the tournament, so Baker expects Roark to be on a stricter pitch count.
:: 2017 World Baseball Classic ::
"He wants to pitch and represent [his country]," Baker said. "Murph wants to hit and represent, or else he would have come home."
Baker said he also spoke to Murphy on Sunday night, and said his second baseman, who has appeared in just two Classic games and gone 0-for-6, was in a good state of mind.
The World Baseball Classic runs through Wednesday. In the U.S., games air live exclusively in English on MLB Network and on an authenticated basis via MLBNetwork.com/watch, while ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN provide the exclusive Spanish-language coverage. MLB.TV Premium subscribers in the U.S. have access to watch every tournament game live on any of the streaming service's 400-plus supported devices. The tournament is being distributed internationally across all forms of television, internet, mobile and radio in territories excluding the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan. Get tickets for the Championship Round at Dodger Stadium, while complete coverage -- including schedules, video, stats and gear -- is available at WorldBaseballClassic.com.
Worth noting
• The Nats made another round of roster moves Monday morning, trimming their group in Major League camp by four players. Braulio Lara, Spencer Kieboom, Neftali Soto and Grant Green were all reassigned to Minor League camp.
Jamal Collier covers the Nationals for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jamalcollier.