After Sunday’s disappointing 6-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox, the Nationals insisted that starting pitcher John Lannan still had some leeway despite his recent struggles. But after general manager Mike Rizzo, manager Jim Riggleman and pitching coach Steve McCatty thought things over last night they woke up on Monday with a different plan. Lannan is headed to Double-A Harrisburg to figure out what’s gone wrong.
The move is a shock to a club that has started Lannan the past two Opening Days. He was expected to be a reliable piece of the rotation once again. But the 25-year-old left-hander – a contact pitcher – just hasn’t induced the ground balls he needs to keep major-league hitters honest. Lannan is 2-5 with a 5.76 ERA. Only Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez (6.09 ERA) is worse in the N.L. He did not record an out in the fifth inning on Sunday against Chicago and in Lannan’s last three starts he has allowed 31 hits and not made it out of the fifth.
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Said Riggleman before Monday’s game against Kansas City: “It’s tough to try to work out of some mechanical things – or whatever – in the big leagues and experiment with anything. The consequences of it not working are greater. So it gives [Lannan] a little leeway to maybe try a couple things there and maybe something that he can draw on from the past that he can get back to. This is not the place to experiment.”
For now, the Nats don’t need a fifth starter. Because of Thursday’s day off the team is set until June 29 at Atlanta when J.D. Martin would have to pitch on three-days rest. Between now and then Martin, Livan Hernandez, Stephen Strasburg and Luis Atilano are set. Washington recalled Joel Peralta from Triple-A Syracuse to take Lannan’s place on the 25-man roster. That will temporarily help a bullpen that has endured a collective heavy workload this season. Peralta, 34, is 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA in 28 games at Syracuse. Riggleman said he could use Peralta tonight – the right-hander has a Livan Hernandez caliber rubber arm – but in a perfect world would give him a day to get ready.
Washington made two other roster moves unrelated to the Lannan situation. Garrett Mock – the right-handed starter who made the team out of spring training only to falter early – is headed to the 60-day disabled list (right cervical disk injury). Meanwhile, Ross Detwiler, the 24-year-old left-hander, is back off the 60-day disabled list and will join Lannan at Harrisburg, where he had made a solid rehab start last Friday. Detwiler had right hip surgery in January.
Lannan has more history with Double-A pitching coach Randy Tomlin. The two worked together in 2007 at Single-A Potomac and the hope is he can find something in Lannan’s delivery that McCatty and Riggleman are missing. But the demotion is open-ended. Riggleman did not give a specific timetable for Lannan’s return. When he starts getting ground-ball outs consistently at Harrisburg he’ll be back in the mix. Until that happens Lannan will stay there. So now word on who would be the fifth starter on June 29.
“That’s not a fun day. But we have to react to what’s been happening and what’s the best thing for John,” Riggleman said. “We feel like this is the best thing for John. And assure him that – you hate to rationalize – but some really great pitchers have gone through this. I think [Detroit Tigers 21-year-old right-hander] Rick Porcello is going to be a star in the American League, but he got sent out [Sunday]. A few years ago [Seattle Mariners’ left-hander] Cliff Lee got sent out and came back and won the Cy Young. Guys who have had great careers have had the little bump in the road somewhere and had to go back. We feel like that’s going to be the case with John.”
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