Nats looking to get the most out of rookie Joe Ross (with lineups)

ST. LOUIS - As right-hander Joe Ross prepares to make his 12th start of his rookie season in tonight's game against the Cardinals, the question remains how much longer the Nationals intend to use the 22-year-old.

"It's an interesting scenario because, one, he hasn't been hurt," manager Matt Williams explained. "It's not like he's had an injury and we're cautious in that regard."

Combined with his 76 innings thrown in the minors this season, Ross has totaled 142 2/3 innings in 2015. The highest he has ever reached was 122 1/3 innings two years ago. Last season he tossed 121 2/3 innings.

"It's unchartered territory for him, of course, because he just hasn't been there," Williams said. "But it's a view from us in looking at how he's going about it and all indications are he's just fine. His last time was good, time before that was good. If we get an opportunity to get him out of a game and we have the bullpen set up and a big lead or even in the other scenario where we can limit that particular start, we can do that."

While veterans like Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez labored through August, Ross remained solid, surrendering two or fewer runs in six of his starts over the month. He's coming off six innings of one-hit ball in a 4-2 win over the Padres last Thursday.

Williams said the possibility remains for Ross to remain with the Nationals.

"You don't know when fatigue will set in," Williams said. "You don't know when feel will go away potentially. But there are no indications of that."

Overall, Ross is 5-5 with a 3.24 ERA with 65 strikeouts and just 11 walks this season.

For the Nationals:

LF Jayson Werth
2B Anthony Rendon
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
3B Yunel Escobar
SS Ian Desmond
C Wilson Ramos
CF Michael A. Taylor
RHP Joe Ross

For the Cardinals:

3B Matt Carpenter
RF Stephen Piscotty
SS Jhonny Peralta
CF Jason Heyward
C Yadier Molina
2B Kolten Wong
1B Mark Reynolds
LF Brandon Moss
LHP Marco Gonzales