After another shaky performance from No. 5 starter Chien-Ming Wang on Tuesday, the Nationals have decided to send him to the bullpen. Back into the rotation is Ross Detwiler, who began the season there when Wang was on the disabled list with a right hamstring tear.
Detwiler earned that spot with an aggressive approach in relief on Tuesday. He helped hold the Rays to five runs in 3 2/3 innings. Wang, meanwhile, walked three batters, gave up seven hits and five earned runs and just can’t seem to fix the mechanical flaws that are affecting his control.
So Wang heads to the bullpen where Johnson will try to keep him on a reasonable schedule. That means he can still long toss to keep his arm strength up and when he has a side session in the bullpen he will not be used the following day.
“I’ll protect him,” Johnson said.
Wang (2-3, 6.10 ERA) will try to work out his mechanics with pitching coach Steve McCatty. Not sure how much rope he has left with the organization if this doesn’t work. Johnson remains complimentary of Wang and said he’ll need him later in the season. He likes the arm strength Wang has demonstrated so far in five starts back. With three left-handed relievers and three right-handed relievers in the pen, Johnson has the balance he wants to remain patient with Wang.
“I need him to get back comfortable. He’s still getting not on top [of the ball],” Johnson said. “He’s delivering it out in here with that flat movement instead of sink. I was hoping he could work it out starting, but in my conversations with [McCatty] I think maybe it’s best to see if he can’t work it out with less stress on him.”
Detwiler was very good through his first six starts with a 2.10 ERA in 34 1/3 innings. But all of the sudden he started pitching more defensively. But he gave up 13 runs in his next three starts combined, never made it past the fifth inning and allowed a combined 27 hits and walks. Not good enough and with Wang healthy Washington made the switch. Detwiler’s last three relief outings he hasn’t allowed a hit in 7 1.3 innings with just two walks.
“I don’t know how many [pitches] I threw [Tuesday], but I can guarantee you it was definitely a lot better,” said Detwiler, who will start Sunday against Baltimore. “It’s easier to pitch when you’re ahead in the count, rather than being behind, and I think my last two or three starts, I was behind every single count, and it’s just that much easier to hit.”
Follow me on Twitter @bmcnally14
