Today’s District Daily discusses Washington Nationals top-prospect Lucas Giolito succeeding in Double-A and Dusty Baker’s ninth-inning plans going forward, with closer Jonathan Papelbon on the disabled list..
Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.
In today’s Daily, MLB.com’s Matt Kardos discusses the continued progress of top Nationals prospect Lucas Giolitio. As Kardos writes, Giolitio is on a dominant run at Double-A Harrisburg, going 5-3 with a 2.74 ERA and 69 strikeouts over 66 1/3 innings in his first full season with the Suns.
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Also in today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes discusses how manager Dusty Baker does not like the idea of going with a closer by committee while Jonathan Papelbon is on the disabled list.
As Janes writes, Baker hopes the Nationals come up with a more permanent solution for the ninth inning while Papelbon is out. The Nationals have been using different relievers in the ninth inning in recent days with mixed results.
In yesterday’s game, the bullpen blew a save in the ninth. That, Baker says, is why he doesn’t want a closer by committee. Here’s what Baker had to say about yesterday’s game, via Janes’ article:
"“Yesterday was kind of an example that we’ve never been crazy about bullpen by committee. It rarely works,” Baker said. “We’re gonna come up with some semblance of an everyday-type situation depending on how many innings a guy threw before or something.”"
Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.
Giolito continuing successful run in Double-A
TRENTON, N.J. — While the Washington Nationals sit atop the National League East, their top prospect Lucas Giolito has been on quite a run of dominance in the Double-A Eastern League.
The 21-year old right-hander, who is ranked as the top prospect in baseball by MLB.com, has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all but one of his 13 starts for the Harrisburg Senators. Giolito limited the Trenton Thunder to three runs, two earned, on Thursday night at Arm & Hammer Park.
The Nationals’ first-round pick in 2012 MLB Draft did not have his best command of the season and was forced to labor throughout much of his five-inning, 92-pitch outing. Read full article here.
Dusty Baker ‘not crazy about’ bullpen by committee in Jonathan Papelbon’s absence
(Chelsea Janes, Washington Post)
SAN DIEGO — Dusty Baker said he didn’t know how the Nationals would piece together the later innings without Jonathan Papelbon.
“I don’t know,” he said repeatedly when Papelbon was placed on the disabled list Tuesday. He said he and Mike Maddux would look at matchups, determine who had pitched too much lately and who had not pitched as much, and make choices from there. Shawn Kelley closed Monday night. Sammy Solis pitched in a tie game in the ninth Tuesday. Wednesday, Matt Belisle allowed a run in the eighth. Oliver Perez blew a save in the ninth. Read full article here.