Will Joe Ross Start 2016 In The Washington Nationals Bullpen?

With Opening Day Monday, the Nationals are starting the 2016 season with Joe Ross in the bullpen

Opening Day is only a few days away and the Washington Nationals are nearing the process of completing their 25-man roster that will be in Atlanta on April 4. Before tonight’s exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins at Nats Park, Dan Kolko of MASN tweeted that manager Dusty Baker said today that Joe Ross and Tanner Roark will both be on the team and either one could be used in the bullpen:

This isn’t as much of a surprise because this year’s first week is unique compared to most seasons. The Nationals will have two off days this coming week (Tuesday and Friday). Due to the off days, the Nats will only need four starters the first time through the rotation.

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Barring any rainouts, the Nats would not need a fifth starter until the third series of the season against the Atlanta Braves at Nats Park (April 11-14). With Roark starting tonight against the Twins, I would expect Ross to be in the bullpen to begin the year so they keep Roark in the starter routine. William Ladson of MLB.com tweeted earlier today that the fifth starter would likely be Ross:

The fifth starter -- likely Joe Ross -- will start the season in the bullpen. #Nats #MLB #Nationals
— William Ladson (@ladsonbill24) April 1, 2016

Last season, the 22-year-old Ross right-hander went 5-5 with a 3.64 ERA in 16 games (13 starts) over the course of 76.2 innings. If you count his time in double-A Harrisburg and triple-A Syracuse, he threw a total of 152.2 innings.

This spring, Ross had a 2.79 ERA in four games (three starts), but he hasn’t pitched since March 20 after exiting his last start early due to being hit in the right heel by a line drive in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers. However, he did get an at-bat in Wednesday’s game against the Mets.