Gray penciled in, but not guaranteed to start Sunday

TORONTO – When the Nationals put out their rotation plan for this weekend’s series against the Marlins, Josiah Gray’s name was listed for Sunday’s finale at Nationals Park. Asked about that, though, Davey Martinez admitted that may not remain the plan.

“I’m going to be honest with you: That could change,” the manager said today. “We’re going to treat it as if he’s going to start on Sunday. He’s going to go through his bullpen work. But I’m going to be out there and watch him through his bullpen. If I see any red flags or anything, then we might do something different.”

Gray just wrapped up a disappointing month, one in which he went 0-3 with an 8.44 ERA and failed to complete four innings in three of his five starts. It reached a low point Monday night against the Blue Jays when the right-hander was pulled after throwing 63 pitches in only two innings, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks.

After that game, Martinez suggested the Nationals might need to look at giving Gray a break, or at least some extra rest after this stretch has derailed what was a breakthrough, All-Star season for the 25-year-old.

For now, they’re still tentatively planning to send him to the mound Sunday afternoon to face the Marlins on five days’ rest. But that plan will remain tentative until Gray throws his Friday bullpen session in front of Martinez and pitching coach Jim Hickey.

“We want to keep him going, keep him engaged,” Martinez said. “I talked to him about it; he’s for whatever. He wants to pitch Sunday, but we’ll see how the next few days go.”

With off-days scheduled both Monday and Thursday around a two-game series with the Mets, the Nationals have the ability to reconfigure what has been a stable, six-man rotation for weeks.

If Gray doesn’t start Sunday, the team could go with MacKenzie Gore on standard four days’ rest. A bullpen game is another possibility, taking advantage of the extra pitcher who will be allowed to join the expanded, 28-man September roster beginning Friday.

“Depending on how we get through the next three days, it could be a bullpen day,” Martinez said. “Remember, September, we get an extra pitcher, too. So that will definitely help.”

If they want more of a true starter, the Nationals could promote 2019 first-round pick Jackson Rutledge, who started Saturday for Rochester but sports a 4.93 ERA and 1.555 WHIP in 10 games since getting moved up to Triple-A. They also could activate Rule 5 draftee Thaddeus Ward, who made a four-inning rehab start for Single-A Wilmington on Tuesday.