Nationals to stick with Tanner Roark in Game 4 over ill Strasburg

The Washington Nationals will not be using the game postponement to alter their pitching staff.

Dusty Baker said on Tuesday that Tanner Roark will remain the team’s Game 4 starter. MLB decided not to play Game 4 on Tuesday because of the weather, instead opting to move the game to Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.

The extra day between games would have allowed Game 1 starter Stephen Strasburg to pitch on full rest. But Baker is going to stick with Roark.

“We have full confidence in Tanner,” Baker said.

Baker said that part of his decision is that Strasburg is “under the weather.” He said many of his players were under the weather, possibly because of the weather change and air conditioning. Another factor is that Strasburg pitched his bullpen on Tuesday.

Jake Arrieta will start for the Cubs in Game 4 as scheduled.

Baker declined to say whether Strasburgh would be available out of the bullpen in Game 4, saying he wasn’t focusing on that and believed Roark would pitch well. However, he said Strasburg was still the scheduled Game 5 starter.

The Nats trail Chicago 2-1 in the best of five series and are facing elimination.