WASHINGTON — Nationals rookie Joe Ross has likely started his last game of the season, but the 22-year-old鈥檚 freshman campaign isn鈥檛 done just yet.
Ross (5-5, 3.79 ERA) will finish the season out the bullpen, the club announced Tuesday, a move designed to limit the innings he throws while still keeping him active down the stretch.
The right-hander has thrown a career-high 149.2 innings combined in the minor and major leagues this season and has shown signs of wearing down in his last two starts.
鈥淲e can manage innings a little bit for Joe out of the 鈥榩en,鈥� said manager Matt Williams. 鈥淗e鈥檚 at a point now that he鈥檚 never been to, a little bit fatigued in that regard, so to be asked to go out every fifth day and pitch six innings would be unfair for him.鈥�
Ross threw a total of seven innings combined in his last two starts and was charged with seven earned runs. He also struggled with his command — among his strengths for much of the season — with nine walks and three strikeouts in his two most recent outings.
鈥淭he eyes tell what鈥檚 going on with him,鈥� said Williams, who also acknowledged reduced velocity on Ross鈥� fastball last weekend. 鈥淭he last start, he was feeling pretty fatigued. I think it was evident with what we saw. So that being said, we can limit that and still have him continue to be effective for us, albeit not from a starter鈥檚 position.鈥�
There was some thought that with an unspecified innings limit approaching, the Nationals would simply shut down Ross altogether. Instead, the club hopes he will benefit from pitching in meaningful games over the final four weeks of the season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important for him to be part of [a playoff race] and to experience this last part of the season,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚t will do nothing but benefit him in the long run and down the line. It鈥檚 not that he鈥檚 hurt — he鈥檚 perfectly healthy. It鈥檚 a question of him being available to pitch, but not necessarily six innings every time out. So he鈥檚 excited about that.鈥�
The Nationals also announced that Tanner Roark will take Ross鈥� spot in the rotation. Roark is expected to start Saturday against Miami.
