Lee’s usage moving forward still to be determined

CINCINNATI – Nationals manager Davey Martinez was impressed with Evan Lee’s major league debut Wednesday against the Mets. The 24-year-old’s 3 ⅔ innings on 67 pitches was strong enough for the skipper to suggest the left-hander would get another chance to pitch in the big leagues.

Whether that’s in the form of another start or an appearance out of the bullpen remains to be seen. Martinez wants to see how these four-games in Cincinnati play out before making a commitment to Lee making a second start.

Martinez did confirm, however, that Lee is staying with the Nationals for the time being, instead of being sent back down to the minors after a spot start.

“Yeah, he's here. We told him to be ready for the five days” Martinez said of Lee during his pregame media session with the media. “We'll see what transpires in those other days. We also, for me, we got one left-hander in the bullpen. So on his bullpen day, we might keep him back and maybe put him in the bullpen for that day.”

That bullpen day typically comes on the third day of a five-day rotation, meaning Lee could be available out of the bullpen for Saturday’s afternoon game against the Reds with Erick Fedde on the mound. Josh Rogers, the only lefty currently in the ‘pen, had to pitch in two of the three games in New York, including mop up duty in the eighth inning Wednesday after Jordan Weems couldn’t close out the inning.

It truly is a wait and see situation for Martinez, who wouldn’t commit to someone filling that spot in the rotation if Lee is used out of the bullpen. He even suggested the rookie could also start a game after his bullpen day.

“We haven't decided yet,” Martinez said of who will take that spot in the rotation. “So we'll see. If we do put (Lee in the bullpen), like I said, he has a bullpen day. And his bullpens, he'll probably throw 30-35 pitches. So we can use him as just a bullpen day and then do something else. Even let him start. So like I said, we haven't thought about it. I'm not committed to anything yet. So we'll see what happens.”

You might be looking at the calendar and noticing Stephen Strasburg is making his third rehab start on Friday, this time with Triple-A Rochester. And with Monday’s off-day, the veteran could fill that spot if he’s deemed ready to return from the injured list. But Martinez said these are two separate situations.

“No … We'll see how Strasburg does Friday and we'll go from there,” Martinez said. “We'll need somebody before then. But we'll see what transpires. I'm looking forward to watching what Stras does again. But that's totally different than what we're trying to do here right now.”

What they’re trying to do here is win their first road series in a month and give one of their highly rated prospects another opportunity in the major leagues.