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.

Poor Levale Speigner.  He finally made it to the big leagues and the Nationals have put him in the starting rotation even though he’s no where near ready to handle it.  It’s amazing to me that I watched him outpitch Johan Santana in the MetroDome when he won one of his starts.  In 19 games (6 starts), Speigner is 2-3 with a 8.78 ERA and a 2.03 WHIP so far this season.  He has thrown 40 innings this season and he’s allowed 58 hits, walked 23 batters and whiffed 19.  The Nationals should be using this kid as a mop up man in the bullpen so they don’t ruin him.

Jason Simontacchi started the season on the DL and he hasn’t pitched too well since he’s been activated.  In 3 starts, he is 1-2 with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP so far this season.  In 17.1 innings, he has allowed 22 hits but he’s only walked 4 batters while whiffing 12.  It’s possible that Simontacchi could be a little bit rusty and the Nationals don’t have many options to replace him so he will get an extended look in the rotation.

Matt Chico has looked overmatched so far this season and the Nationals can’t afford to leave him out there if he doesn’t start to pitch better soon.  In 6 starts this season, Chico is 2-3 with a 6.59 ERA and a 2.09 WHIP and it looks as if Chico’s confidence on the mound is waning.  Chico has thrown 27.1 innings this season and he has allowed 37 hits, 5 homers and he’s walked 20 batters!  The Nationals are not doing themselves or Chico any favors by hanging him out to dry.  They need to send him back to the minors if he doesn’t start pitching better soon.