Latos gets start tonight, but Ross could be ready by weekend

It's looking like Joe Ross will be ready to rejoin the Nationals rotation later this week when his turn comes up. Until then, they'll take their chances with short-term insurance policies like Mat Latos and A.J. Cole.

Ross emerged from his simulated game Saturday with no problems and, according to manager Dusty Baker, looks ready to pitch in his first big league game in more than two months.

"I think he's game-ready," Baker said. "He's just not game-endurance-ready. But that can play, too, also. It can't play today, because Joe just threw the other day. But I've heard guys around the league tell me that when he's right, he's as nasty as any young pitcher in the big leagues."

Ross threw 60 pitches in his simulated game Saturday afternoon, facing a group of Nationals hitters. Ideally, he would be able to build up to 80-90 pitches in a rehab start before returning from the disabled list, but with the minor league season over and the Nats needing quality starters now for the final stretch of the regular season, they probably have no choice but to bring him back in short order.

The fact the club has an oversized, 15-man bullpen right now helps, because Ross could throw only four or five innings and have plenty of backup.

Ross, who hasn't pitched since July 3 due to shoulder inflammation, is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list whenever the Nationals decide to do it. They will, however, need to remove somebody else off the 40-man roster to clear a spot for Ross. If they prefer not to lose a player altogether, they could potentially transfer reliever Sammy Solis (still rehabbing from his own shoulder injury) to the 60-day DL, though that move could only be backdated to Aug. 16.

The Nationals would have loved to have Ross back in time for tonight's series opener against the Mets, but with that option unavailable, they decided to go with Latos instead.

The 28-year-old right-hander was only signed to a minor league deal over the summer after getting released by the White sox. At the time, the Nats didn't view him as a viable option to pitch in the big leagues, merely another insurance policy just in case something went wrong.

Then Ross and Stephen Strasburg landed on the DL, while prospects Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez struggled. And so it will be Latos starting a series opener in mid-September between two teams in a pennant race.

"Latos has a pretty good assortment of pitches, and he's the best that we have, we think, for today," Baker said. "Now, for the next start or whenever it is, we'll see. We're hoping to have Joe Ross back."