Nats game blog: Koehler allows most of his homers to Harper, Nationals

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

April 10, 2016, 6:51am

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Right-hander Joe Ross makes his 2016 Nationals debut Sunday against Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler. The pair was supposed to match up yesterday, but that game was postponed.

This is that big step year for Ross. This will be the first time in his young career that he has been handed the ball from the beginning of the season with the responsibility of being a full-time starter. He certainly has the ability and makeup to shine. Ross, 22, was 5-5 in 16 games (13 starts) in 2015 with a 3.64 ERA.

His splits have some impressive notes: 4-2 at home with a 2.44 ERA. This is his first start in April and first against the Marlins. He has pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings against the Fish.

Koehler has had major difficulty with the Nationals' top slugger Bryce Harper, allowing five home runs to the National League MVP. He has also surrendered two homers to Jayson Werth and a pair to Ryan Zimmerman, but Zimmerman is not starting today. In his 56 homers allowed in his career, 10 have come at Nationals Park. Twelve of his homers were hit by the Nationals.

Koehler was 11-14 with a 4.08 ERA in 31 starts for Miami. He has more losses against the Nationals than any other opponent: 3-6 with a 4.64 ERA in nine starts and 1-4 with a 6.21 ERA in five starts in D.C.