Washington Nationals: Sammy Solis and Joe Blanton progressing

Apr 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sammy Solis (36) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sammy Solis (36) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Nationals relievers Sammy Solis and Joe Blanton have both missed substantial time this season due to injuries, but both are progressing towards their returns.

The Washington Nationals bullpen has been one of their few weak spots this season. Sammy Solis and Joe Blanton were supposed to fill late-inning roles, but neither has contributed much in 2017 due to injuries.

Solis, who was one of the Nats’ most reliable and most frequently used relievers last season, got off to a rough start this year. After pitching to an 8.31 ERA in six appearances, Solis was placed on the 10-Day Disabled List with left elbow inflammation on April 19.

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Blanton, who signed late in the off-season and appeared to be a potential set-up man, experienced similar struggles at the beginning of this season. In his first 14 appearances for Washington, he racked up a 9.49 ERA and looked nothing like the dominant reliever the Nats faced in the 2016 postseason. Something was obviously wrong with Blanton and on May 17, he was placed on the 10-Day Disabled List with shoulder inflammation.

The bullpen collectively got off to a rough start to the 2017 season, but has improved lately and could potentially be getting Solis and Blanton back shortly.

Solis’ elbow inflammation was severe enough that he could not throw for a long period of time and was effectively shut down. After so much down time, the Nats elected to send him to extended Spring Training in West Palm Beach before a rehab assignment.

During Dusty Baker’s pregame press conference on Thursday, he announced that Solis recently threw a 40-pitch bullpen session. This is excellent news because it shows that Solis has been progressing through his rehab program. Before throwing a bullpen, Solis most likely had to build back some arm strength and be able to long toss successfully.

The fact that Solis’ bullpen session was 40 pitches is also encouraging. Forty pitches is about how many he would throw on an average night between his warm-up pitches in the bullpen, his warm-up pitches on the mound, and his pitches during the game. It is a relatively lengthy bullpen session, which is especially encouraging considering Solis is often asked to pitch multiple innings.

Blanton is also progressing towards his return to the bullpen. He began his rehab assignment on Thursday with a start for the Harrisburg Senators, the Nats’ Double-A affiliate. He pitched the first inning and had a perfect inning against the top of a solid Altoona Curve lineup.

On top of pitching a perfect inning, Blanton threw lots of strikes, ten of 15 total pitches. He also had two strikeouts. Another encouraging aspect of his appearance is the fact that his fastball reached 90 mph. According to Brooks Baseball, his fastball usually sits in the low 90s so his velocity is right where it normally is.

Getting Solis and Blanton back in the bullpen will be extremely beneficial for the Nats. Although their bullpen has improved lately, Solis and Blanton are both excellent relievers when healthy and can improve any bullpen.

When Solis and Blanton return, there will have to be corresponding roster moves. Joe Ross pitched a gem against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, but has struggled lately. If his struggles return, he could potentially get sent back down to Syracuse, with Jacob Turner becoming the fifth starter.

Another possible move is Oliver Perez being placed on the disabled list, designated for assignment, or traded. Despite his recent success, he still has a 4.38 ERA and rarely pitches more than a batter or two. Between Solis and Enny Romero, the Nats would have two quality lefties in the bullpen, making Perez expendable.

Shawn Kelley could also possibly be affected by Solis and Blanton’s returns. Kelley was one of the Nats best relievers last season, but hasn’t been the same this year. Kelley has been extremely homer-prone and has had difficulty throwing strikes at times. His arm is also somewhat fragile due to undergoing two Tommy John surgeries. When Solis and Blanton return, he could potentially be placed on the Disabled List, designated for assignment, or traded as well.

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Sammy Solis and Joe Blanton both figured to be key contributors in the Nats bullpen this season, but have not enjoyed much success due to injuries. They’re finally almost back and if they pitch like they are capable, this outstanding Nationals team will become even better.