Martinez will use Rosenthal again in low-pressure spot (Nats lose 4-2)

PHILADELPHIA - Davey Martinez gave Trevor Rosenthal an opportunity to get himself right pitching in a low-leverage spot Sunday afternoon, and it didn't work. If the situation arises again tonight, Martinez will give his woefully ineffective reliever another opportunity to get himself right.

Rosenthal, who hasn't retired any of the nine batters he's faced so far this season, remains an active member of the Nationals bullpen and will continue to pitch. Just not in high-leverage spots.

"Right now, we're going to take it day-by-day," Martinez said before tonight's series opener against the Phillies. "If it happens we get a chance to put him in again today, like yesterday, he's going to pitch. He's a part of the (bullpen). He's got to pitch."

Martinez thought he had put Rosenthal in an ideal spot Sunday, with the Nationals up 12-6 on the Mets in the bottom of the eighth inning. But Rosenthal, after throwing a first-pitch strike, plunked Dominic Smith, then issued a four-pitch walk to Luis Guillorme that included back-to-back wild pitches.

Martinez decided not to take any more chances and pulled Rosenthal despite the reliever's plea to remain in the game.

Rosenthal won't be used in the setup role originally planned for him, not until and unless he rights his wayward ship. But he will pitch if the game isn't close.

"Hopefully we get a big lead today, and we can get him out there and see what happens," Martinez said. "I mean, he's got to pitch. That's part of it."

The fact Rosenthal has been throwing 100 mph fastballs leaves club officials confident he's healthy. They also believe one clean outing might be enough to get him back on track.

"For him, it's just about throwing strikes," Martinez said. "Once he gets that first out, he's going to be OK."

Update: The Nationals jumped on Vince Velasquez tonight, getting a 110-mph double from Juan Soto to lead off the top of the second and then a two-run homer from Kurt Suzuki. That laser to left was Suzuki's first homer in his second stint with the Nats, and it gave his team a 2-0 lead. Aníbal Sánchez navigated his way through the Phillies lineup effectively the first time around, walking Bryce Harper on four pitches before striking out Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto. He's through two scoreless innings on 23 pitches.

Update II: Sánchez has pitched very well tonight, but he made one mistake: a first-pitch fastball to Odúbel Herrera, who launched it to right for a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth. That tied the game, 2-2, and that's where it remains in the sixth.

Update III: Another rocket off Sánchez in the sixth. This time it was Rhys Hoskins, who wasn't fooled by a 3-2 curveball. Wander Suero escaped a jam that could've made things worse, but the Nats nonetheless trail 3-2 heading into the late innings.

Update IV: Nats lose 4-3. Justin Miller gave up a homer in the bottom of the eighth, and though Brian Dozier led off the ninth with a homer and Anthony Rendon followed with a double, the Nats couldn't drive home the tying run.