Rookie Joe Ross returns to start against Mets on Tuesday

Nationals manager Matt Williams announced rookie Joe Ross as the starter for Tuesday night's game against the Mets.

The 22-year-old was called up from Double-A Harrisburg to make his major league debut on June 6 after Stephen Strasburg landed on the 15-day disabled list the first time this season.

Ross dazzled in his three starts until Strasburg returned. The right-hander went 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA while setting a new Nationals record by waiting 54 batters into his big league career before issuing his first walk.

In his last start on June 19, Ross fanned 11 Pirates while holding them to one run on six hits with only one walk over 7 1/3 innings as the Nationals won 4-1. He joined John Lannan (2008) and Strasburg (2010) as the only Nationals rookies to strike out at least 10 batters in a game.

When Strasburg returned on June 23, Ross was optioned to Triple A-Syracuse. Ross went 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA in five starts for the Chiefs. Tomorrow, he'll square off with 2014 National League Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom.

"(Ross) stepped in his first start and acted as if he'd been here before," Williams said. "And then, of course, his other two starts were even better. We have a comfort level that he can come up here and do what he can do to help us win that particular game that he pitches. He's been pitching very well and there is no indication that it would be otherwise when he gets back here."

With Strasburg back on the DL for extended time, Ross figures to remain in the Nationals rotation for a few starts, leaving him to most likely face the Pirates again this Sunday when the Nationals travel to PNC Park.

The Nationals acquired Ross, a former 2011 first-rounder, from the Padres in December in the three-way deal that also netted highly ranked shortstop prospect Trea Turner.

The Nationals have not announced whose spot Ross will take on the roster.