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.

John Patterson, Ray King and Jason Bergmann are all throwing batting practice so far this season.  Patterson is being counted on as the #1 starter for the Nationals but he hasn’t pitched like one.  He has started 2 games and he’s only lasted 8.2 innings and he’s allowed 11 hits, 9 earned runs and he’s walked 7 batters.  The Nationals need to get him on track because he’s their best starting pitcher by far.  Jason Bergmann won’t keep his starting job very long if he has any more performances like his first one.  He pitched 3.2 innings and he allowed 5 hits, 4 earned runs and walked 6 batters.  Ray King was signed in the off-season to be the lefty specialist in the Nationals bullpen and he’s pitched awful so far.  He has thrown 3.2 innings so far this season and he’s allowed 6 hits, 5 earned runs and walked 4 batters.  He’ll need to pitch better than that if he wants to continue his major league career.