Washington Nationals: 5 storylines to watch as Nats conclude huge homestand
By Drew Douglas
Erick Fedde’s MLB debut
On Thursday, the Nats placed Stephen Strasburg on the 10-day disabled list with a right elbow nerve impingement. Sammy Solis has been called up to take his roster spot, but Erick Fedde will be called up on Saturday and start in Strasburg’s place.
Fedde, the Nationals’ top pitching prospect, has had a solid season in the minors. Between AA and AAA, he has pitched to a 3.72 ERA in 27 appearances (11 starts). He began the year as a starter, but was moved to the bullpen to conserve his innings and prepare him to possibly join the Nats bullpen.
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The Nats eventually transitioned Fedde back into a starter after his brief relief stint, but he is still in the process of stretching his arm back out. By turning him into a reliever, they compacted him a bit and he must build his stamina back up.
Fortunately, his arm is stretched out enough to make his MLB debut on Saturday. In his last start, he pitched five innings and allowed two runs. The Nats would be happy to get five innings out of him on Saturday.
If Strasburg ends up being injured long-term or Edwin Jackson continues to struggle, Fedde may be needed to fill out the back-end of the rotation. The Nats have also been rumored to be in the running to acquire another starting pitcher, though, so Fedde may not have all that pressure on his shoulders.
It will be a lot of fun to watch Fedde make his MLB debut on Saturday against the Rockies, although they will be a tough opponent. For more on Fedde, check out our interview with him.
Next: Strasburg's DL stint causes headaches
The Nationals have built a huge lead in the NL East, while the Rockies are surprisingly in the Wild Card race and appear to be a legitimate contender. The elite third basemen, recent bullpen acquisitions, the Nats offense, Desmond’s return to DC, and Fedde’s debut should all be storylines to watch during what looks to be an entertaining weekend series between two of the top teams in the National League.