Nats choose to send Joe Ross back to minors instead of bullpen (game started)

The Nationals chose to option right-handed rookie Joe Ross to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Stephen Strasburg's return from the 15-day disabled list this afternoon. Nationals manager Matt Williams said Ross "seriously opened eyes" during his first stint in the big leagues.

The 22-year-old Ross made the jump from Double-A Harrisburg for his major league debut on June 6 at Nationals Park. He allowed three runs on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks in five innings. In fact, Ross didn't end up issuing a walk until the eighth inning of his second start in Milwaukee, setting a new team record for most batters faced (54) without giving up a free pass to start a career.

Ross was brilliant against the Brewers on June 13, joining Jordan Zimmermann and Max Scherzer as the only Nationals starters to toss at least eight innings this year. Ross picked up his first win in the majors that night, surrendering just two runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts.

In his last start, Ross spun another gem. He struck out 11 over 7 1/3 innings on Friday night while holding the Pirates to only one run on six hits.

After the move was made, Williams was asked what impressed him most about Ross.

"Everything," Williams said. "I think he came up here with expectation to do well in his own brain, and he did that. So the way he went about his business was like a professional. He made his starts and he worked hard in between them to be prepared, and he pitched really well for us. So all of those things make us open our eyes and say, 'Oh, this very young gentleman has got a real bright future in this game.' He did really well."

Williams shared a bit of his outgoing conversation with Ross as the youngster heads back to the minors.

"I told him to be ready and you never know in this game what may happen, so we have to make sure that he continues to progress and do what he needs to do in case he gets that call again," Williams said. "But it's never easy for a player to be told, especially after having success like that, that they're not going to be here. But he understands where we're at and he'll be ready if he's called upon again."

The Nationals could've opted to shift Ross into the bullpen, but Williams felt that wasn't best for the rookie's development.

"For him, it's better for him to be a starter," Williams said. "He hasn't relieved. If you have spring training to work on it, it's one thing, but in the middle of the season, it's not fair to Joe to say, 'OK, now you're a reliever, and we're going to call down and you need to get ready in 10 pitches.' It's just not fair. So he'll continue his progress."

Meanwhile, right-hander Tanner Roark transitions back to a relief role after stepping into the rotation for five starts while Doug Fister and Strasburg were on the DL. Roark went 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA in his five outings. In his previous 13 appearances working out of the bullpen, Roark allowed six runs over 20 1/3 innings (2.66 ERA).

According to Williams, Roark's versatility will be leaned on as a reliever.

"It depends, it depends on where we're at in the seventh, eighth," Williams said. "It depends on where we're at with regard to Drew (Storen) on any given night. But he's versatile. He can do all of it. So it depends. It depends on where our starters have gone and how much we potentially may have to use him long, too. Hopefully, that's not the case and we get the pitching like we got this weekend and guys go deep in games and we don't have to worry about that. But it's baseball. We know that it's not always the plan you lay out. He's got the ability to pitch long, he's got the ability to pitch in the eighth. If we need him, he's closed a game. So he can do it all."

The bullpen has been without Aaron Barrett since he landed on the 15-day DL with a right bicep strain on June 12. Williams seemed encouraged that Barrett has begun throwing again.

Update: Tonight's game will start at approximately 9:15 p.m.

Update II: Tonight's game started at 9:17 p.m.