It is too late to wonder what could have been with Nationals starting pitcher Jason Bergmann. After two extended stints on the disabled list this season he now has one month left to regain the momentum from earlier in the year.
So far, so good. On Monday, Bergmann made his second consecutive quality start since returning from five weeks on the disabled list with hamstring tightness. He pitched seven innings and gave up just one run in a 6-3 victory over Florida, to extend the Nats’ winning streak to three.
“I pitched really well in a couple of my rehab starts [in AAA Columbus] and I felt today like I did out there,” said Bergmann, who posted a 2-1 record with a 1.59 ERA with the Clippers. “This was another step in the right direction for me.”
Every trip to the mound is an audition for next season’s rotation. The 25-year-old Bergmann showed his promise with six quality starts in seven tries in April and May. That’s when an inflamed elbow cost him six weeks and he struggled at times in the six starts after returning from that injury. The second return from injury has gone smoother. Bergmann went six innings in his first start last week against Los Angeles and allowed three runs on six hits. He has walked just two batters in 13 innings.
