Does Turner stay in 'pen or return to rotation? (Nats lose in 10)

PHILADELPHIA - Jacob Turner has turned into an unlikely pitching weapon for the Nationals. The question now is where (and when) should Turner next pitch for the Nats?

The club needs a fifth starter after sending struggling Joe Ross to the minors. The club also needs as much help as it can get in the bullpen right now.

At the moment, Turner's ability to pitch in relief seems to take precedence. He tossed four scoreless innings out of the bullpen Wednesday night against the Diamondbacks, then returned Saturday night to record the final six outs of the Nationals' 6-2 win over the Phillies.

Where does that leave Turner for the next few days?

"He's available for one, maybe two (today), but we got to watch it," manager Dusty Baker said. "I'm sure he's happy to be here, no matter where he fits in. Everybody's worried about where the guys are fitting in, but we're just worried about winning."

Turner is a starter by nature, but he has some big league experience in relief. And given the Nationals' bullpen issues right now - Shawn Kelley, Koda Glover and Sammy Solís are all on the disabled list, while Blake Treinen and Joe Blanton each own ERAs over 9.00 - there could be a greater need for Turner to pitch in relief than in the rotation.

That, however, would leave A.J. Cole in the rotation to face the Orioles on Thursday. Cole tossed six innings of one-run ball Saturday, but the right-hander admittedly was aided by some stellar defense on a night in which he allowed six hits, walked four and surrendered a bunch of hard-hit balls.

For now, Turner will show up and prepare himself to pitch in any scenario.

"I don't really focus on the role," he said. "I'm just trying to compete every time out there. This game can be hard, and obviously winning's a lot of fun. Hopefully we can continue that."

Update: Through three innings on a cold, blustery, sometimes rainy Sunday afternoon, the Nationals hold a 1-0 lead. They got that run in a familiar fashion: a Jayson Werth homer at Citizens Bank Park. It was Werth's 14th homer in his last 49 games here as a visiting player, and it was greeted with the typical response from Phillies fans: boos.

Tanner Roark, meanwhile, has tossed three scoreless innings so far, though he hasn't been completely on point. Roark has issued two walks and has needed 53 pitches to record the first nine outs. So even though he hasn't yet surrendered a hit, he's not exactly pitching like a guy en route to doing something historic today.

Update II: It's Jayson Werth's world and we're all just living in it. At least when we all happen to be in Philadelphia. Werth has homered again, this one a two-run bomb to left in the top of the fifth. He's 3-for-3 with two homers and 10 total bases so far today. And his last three multi-homer games have all come against the Phillies. Don't think for a moment he doesn't love doing this against his former team and in front of his former fans. He absolutely loves it.

Werth's second blast put the Nats back on top 3-2 after the Phillies briefly took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Trea Turner's first error at shortstop this season (in his 21st game played) ultimately set the stage for Freddy Galvis' two-run double, with both runs unearned by Roark.

Update III: The Nationals scored a couple of big insurance runs in the top of the seventh, thanks to Werth's single (leaving him 4-for-4 today), Daniel Murphy's walk, Anthony Rendon's RBI single and Adam Lind's sacrifice fly. So the Nats bullpen will need to record nine outs before allowing three runs today. First man up is Matt Grace.

Update IV: Grace gave the Nats everything he had, recording five outs before departing with two on and two out in the eighth. But Matt Albers couldn't get the job done for the first time this season. Aaron Altherr took Albers' first-pitch slider deep to left-center, and just like that it's a 5-5 game in the eighth.

Update V: Who's up for extra innings? That's where we're headed after Enny Romero somehow escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth.

Update VI: It's over. Blake Treinen loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th and then took the loss on Galvis' sacrifice fly to center. Nats lose 6-5.