The Nationals have released 40-year old lefty reliever Ron Villone. Villone pitched in 41 games (1 start) in AAA-ball for the Nationals this year and he was 2-5 with 1 save, a 6.59 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP. Villone gave up 50 hits (7 homers) and he walked 30 batters in 42 1/3 innings this season. There is more than enough evidence that Villone’s career is near the end of the line so the Nationals won’t miss him one bit.

The Washington Nationals came into this season feeling that 25-year old lefty John Lannan was a starter they could depend on. In his first three years with the Nationals he pitched in 70 games (all starts) in which he was 20-30 with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. But he is off to a terrible start this season. He has started 12 games for the Nationals this year and he is 2-3 with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. Lannan isn’t missing many bats as he has given up 83 hits and he has walked 31 batters in only 66 2/3 innings pitched while only whiffing 22 batters. Lannan needs to throw more strikes and let his defense help him.

Veteran righty reliever has been bringing a gas can out of the bullpen so far this season. In two appearances he is 0-1 with a 12.46 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. He has given up 4 hits and walked 5 batters in only 4 1/3 innings for the Nationals so far this season. The Nationals would like him to be the long reliever in 2010 but they won’t keep him long if he continues to pitch so awful.

23-year old lefty starting pitcher Ross Detwiler was the #2 rated prospect coming into this season heading into this season according to Baseball America. Detwiler’s season started well in AA+AAA ball where he started 16 games and went 4-5 with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. The Nationals were desperate for starting pitching due to injuries so they decided to call up Detwiler who has been overmatched so far this year. Detwiler has pitched in 13 games (12 starts) for the Nationals this season and he is 0-6 with a 5.71 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. He has allowed 79 hits and has walked 28 batters so far this season in only 64 2/3 innings for the Nationals.

Mike Bacsik, Ray King and Jason Simontacchi have been throwing batting practice after the game has begun.  Simontacchi is in the Nationals starting rotation for now but one has to wonder how long they will stick with him.  He is 6-6 with a 6.11 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP so far this season.  It’s hard to imagine him getting his season turned around when you realize that he has allowed 86 hits and 10 homers already this season.  Lefty Mike Bacsik is also in the Nationals current rotation but he might not be there too much longer.  He is 2-6 with a 5.20 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP so far this season and that just won’t get it done in the major leagues.  He has allowed 69 hits (12 of them homers) in only 55.1 innings this season.  Situational lefty reliever Ray King has been awful this season also as he is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP this season.  He has allowed an amazing 5 homers in only 21.2 innings this season.