Nationals don’t expect to face Greinke

Zack Greinke is scheduled to start again for the Brewers on Sunday, two days before the nonwaiver Trade Deadline. Nationals manager Davey Johnson expects to face somebody else.

“I’d be real surprised. I know in the past if the ballclub’s intent on making a move, they’re not going to pitch him two days before the deadline,” Johnson said on Thursday as the teams began their four-game series.

There were, Johnson said, “several reasons” for his suspicion, including the fact that the Brewers added an extra arm to their bullpen earlier Thursday. There were others.

“A club would probably like to put him right in their rotation,” Johnson said. “You wouldn’t want to do anything to hurt him. So yeah, I’d be surprised if he’s still here.”

If Greinke is dealt, the Brewers would probably reinstate 23-year-old Tyler Thornburg to the rotation. Right-hander Shaun Marcum is also making strides in his return from an elbow injury, with another bullpen session scheduled for Friday.

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