JUPITER, Fla. — After throwing two innings in his last appearance this spring, Cardinals starter Erick Fedde is set to make the third Grapefruit League start Thursday at Roger Dean Stadium against the Washington Nationals.
Fedde is scheduled to log three innings in the home start. He worked two innings, allowed one run on one hit — a homer — and struck out three on Feb. 28 in a road game against the Houston Astros in West Palm Beach, Florida. Behind the righty, Cardinals prospects Tekoah Roby and Gordon Graceffo are expected to throw multiple innings in relief.
Behind Fedde, Lars Nootbaar starts in center field with Victor Scott II in left field. Nootbaar, Scott, and Michael Siani form the group of outfielders contending for the Cardinals’ starting center field job. Thursday’s start in center field is Nootbaar’s third this spring. He’s also made three starts in left field through the first two weeks of games.
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Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado both return to the Cardinals’ lineup following an off day on Wednesday. Brendan Donovan, who starts at second base and bats behind Contreras and Arenado, also returns to the Cardinals’ lineup following a day off. A utility Gold Glover, Donovan has stuck exclusively to second base so far this spring but is expected to see innings in the outfield as camp goes on, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said before Thursday’s game.
 JJ Wetherholt, the Cardinals’ top prospect, slots in the designated hitter spot for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ a day after he started at shortstop vs. Houston. A non-roster invitee to his first big-league camp, Wetherholt has two hits in 14 at-bats.
The rest of the Cardinals lineup:
1. Masyn Winn, SS
2. Lars Nootbaar, CF
3. Willson Contreras, 1B
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Brendan Donovan, 2B
6. Pedro Pages, C
7. Victor Scott II, LF
8. Michael Helman, RF
9. JJ Wetherholt, DH
P: Erick Fedde, RHP
