Detwiler’s solid spring earns him starting job Now the real games can begin.
The Nationals returned home Tuesday afternoon after seven weeks at spring training in Florida and concluded the exhibition season with an 8-7 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Nationals Park. It was a sloppy prelude to Opening Day at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Thursday.
But that result was irrelevant in light of Washington’s post-game news that it had optioned left-handed pitcher John Lannan, the expected No. 5 starter, to Triple-A Syracuse. Lannan had one option to the minors remaining. So despite making $5 million and earning public votes of confidence from manager Davey Johnson on multiple occasions this spring, he is the odd-man out.
Instead, lefty Ross Detwiler will start during the early April series against the New York Mets and hold that spot until Chien-Ming Wang recovers from a left hamstring injury suffered March 16. That injury is the reason Lannan took the lead for the No. 5 job in the first place.
“[Lannan is] a very luxurious insurance policy. He doesn’t have to prove anything. He’s a quality big league pitcher, and I know what he can do,” Johnson said. “We have high hopes for Detwiler. We’re giving him an opportunity to get a few more starts in the big leagues and establish himself. We felt that’s what’s best right now for the organization.”
Lannan, 27, has twice started on Opening Day for Washington. In three of the last four seasons, he’s posted an ERA of 3.91 or better, including last year’s 3.70. Lannan is far from a star pitcher. But it’s a testament to the depth assembled by general manager Mike Rizzo that a player of that caliber was deemed expendable. In the end, Detwiler, with a 3.06 ERA this spring, took the job from Lannan. Slated for long relief, Washington decided it couldn’t justify limiting him to that role.
Lannan’s demotion was one of several moves on Tuesday as the organization finalized its 25-man roster. Wang, closer Drew Storen (right elbow) and outfielder Michael Morse (strained right lat muscle) were all placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Reliever Chad Durbin was released and immediately signed with the Atlanta Braves. And reserves Chad Tracy (infield), Xavier Nady (outfield) and Brett Carroll (outfield) — all invited to spring training on minor league deals — had their contracts selected and were added to the 40-man roster. They made the team along with relievers Craig Stammen and Ryan Mattheus. Detwiler’s promotion allowed the team to keep both of those pitchers in the bullpen.
“Came as a big surprise,” Detwiler said. “I came to terms with going to the bullpen and being the long guy and waiting for an opportunity. It came up a whole lot quicker than I thought it would.”
The Red Sox won the finale when Ian Desmond was thrown out at the plate following Danny Espinosa’s two-out, ninth-inning single. Desmond homered and walked twice and catcher Wilson Ramos hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning in a losing effort.
