Washington Nationals: Handicapping the race for 5th starter
By Ron Juckett
EDWIN JACKSON
Washington surprised a few recently when they invited Edwin Jackson to West Palm Beach.
Last year, Jackson filled the fifth starter role after Joe Ross was lost to Tommy John surgery. For six weeks, Jackson pitched well. He ate innings and kept Washington in games. A solid mix of pitches along with movement unsettled opposition batters.
Then September came and the gas gauge hit empty. With an ERA close to 10 for the month, Jackson became hittable. He pitched himself off the playoff roster and the team.
Yet, Jackson gets another chance to earn a rotation spot. He is your typical back end starter. When good, he can win you games and not overtax a bullpen. Capable of pitching seven innings, he can dictate tempo and confuse hitters.
Or, he gets lit up like the national Christmas Tree and wear down his own team. Some nights you have it and others require a third-inning shower.
Jackson hopes to deliver 30 starts and between 160-180 innings. Those are plausible targets. Since, unless injuries dominate 2018, he would not stat a playoff game, his record and ERA are not crucial. Anything under 4.50 is a bonus.
But, he is not the favorite. Unlike Milone, he is a better Syracuse insurance policy. However, Jackson thinks he can pitch in the majors all year. He need not wow people. But, with everything even, he wins.