Brotherly love: Little brother Joe Ross looks to return favor to Tyson Ross in series finale

Nationals 22-year-old right-hander Joe Ross has impressed from his major league debut as a pitcher who doesn't get rattled. That is sometimes a surprising trait in a rookie hurler.

In his last start against the Brewers on Saturday, Khrys Davis slammed a solo homer to start the seventh inning. Ross did not let the run alter his goal and was able to get the next three outs and complete a tremendous quality start.

He went seven innings and allowed only six hits, one run and no walks while striking out four to get the victory. He did all of this work on 82 pitches. The Nationals won the game, 6-1.

Last night, the Padres dropped the Nationals 6-5 behind Ross' 28-year-old older brother Tyson Ross, who went 6 1/3 innings and scattered six hits, allowing four runs, waking two but striking out nine batters. Tyson Ross (9-9) allowed four runs in a game for only the third time in 27 starts this season.

During pregame Wednesday, Padres interim manager Pat Murphy was asked to compare the brothers. Murphy actually had more experience managing Joe Ross because he worked with him during spring training the last three seasons and managed him for the short-season Class A Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League in 2012.

"Joe is a cool customer," Murphy said. "Tyson is, too. Tyson is coming into his own as a front line pitcher in the major leagues. Joe is just getting his feet wet and he'll do well. He is a smooth customer. Tyson's got No. 1 type stuff.

"Kind of different pitchers even though Joe's stuff is very good too. Tyson's been knocked around a little bit more and he's had to learn and adjust, learn and adjust. Maybe not as outwardly confident as Joe. He's darn good."

I asked Murphy if Joe Ross' mound confidence came from having a big brother as a coach and mentor growing up.

"Tyson is one of the finest human beings you're going to meet in this game," Murphy said. "One of the finest human beings you're ever going to meet. He's just a wonderful person, he's a giver, cares about others, sincere, I'm sure he'll be a great father. I'm sure he's a great brother."

With the calendar reaching the end of August and Joe Ross (4-5) at a career-high 136 2/3 innings pitched, it appears the Nationals are moving towards possibly subbing in Tanner Roark to pick up his starts late in the season. Ross' previous innings-high was 122 1/3 and 121 2/3 innings, respectively, all in the minors.

Roark tossed four scoreless innings Wednesday night, striking out five and walking none in high Single-A Potomac's 10-0 win over Frederick. The P-Nats now play four games at Salem and then finish the season out at home for seven games. Roark would likely get a second start at that time to stretch him out before returning to the Nationals. In that start, his pitches cap would be around 80 for a game.

On Tuesday, Nationals manager Matt Williams explained why Roark had to be optioned to Potomac and what it means for Joe Ross.

"It's not easy to do that at any time, but oftentimes those decisions have to be made," Williams said. "We have to prepare. We have to make sure that if in fact Joe is at his limit at sometime in September, then we have somebody that's prepared to do it."

Regardless, Joe Ross has been very impressive in his rookie season with 60 2/3 innings and 58 strikeouts in 10 big league starts. He has allowed only nine walks and sports a 3.56 ERA. His WHIP of 1.05 ranks 10th in the National League for pitchers with at least 60 innings.

Tonight, he gets a shot at the team that drafted him. But with the way he pitches and considering that he is all of 22 years of age, he'll get many more starts in the majors for years to come.

Just like big brother Tyson.