Nationals’ Jon Lester Activated from COVID list, Will Start Friday vs. Marlins

Jon Lester will make his long-awaited Washington Nationals debut as he gets the ball to face the Miami Marlins on Friday night. Lester was one of many Nationals players to test positive for COVID-19 in an outbreak that delayed the start of their season. The veteran left-handed pitcher has been on the COVID list for nearly a month but will now get his first start in a Washington uniform. Joe Ross, who was originally scheduled to start tonight has been pushed back to Saturday.

Lester is coming off a disappointing season with the Chicago Cubs where he went 3-3 in 12 starts with a 5.16 ERA. It was the 37-year-old’s highest ever earned run average in a season and a far call from his 3.60 career ERA.

Over at the FanDuel Sportsbook, the Nats are home underdogs with a +114 moneyline and -152 to cover the +1.5 run line. Miami will counter Lester and his 4.23 career ERA against the Marlins, with Pablo López. Lopez has gotten off to an 0-2 start but has a 2.93 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 27.2 innings this season.