9:15am: Washington has announced the move, along with a corresponding decision to designate first baseman/outfielder Jose Marmolejos for assignment. The 25-year-old had struggled at the plate this year at Triple-A.
8:24am: The Nationals are set to select the contract of southpaw Tommy Milone to start tonight’s game. The TalkNats blog first tweeted that it appeared Milone would get the nod, with MLB.com’s Jamal Collier tweeting that was indeed the plan.
Milone will step into the rotation spot opened when Stephen Strasburg was sent back onto the disabled list. While an active roster spot is already accounted for, the Nats also seemingly need to make a 40-man move to accommodate the return of Milone. The veteran southpaw last pitched for the organization in his rookie campaign of 2011.
Milone has compiled 736 2/3 innings of 4.37 ERA ball in his seven seasons in the big leagues, but has struggled in recent campaigns. This will represent his first MLB action of the 2018 season.
Through twenty starts at the Triple-A level on the year, Milone carries a 4.19 ERA over 109 2/3 frames. He’s averaging 9.3 K/9 — well above his typical levels in the majors but right at his career mean at the highest level of the minors — along with a characteristically minimal walk rate of 2.0 BB/9.
Corresponding move?
4.19 ERA in AAA this year? Nats offense better start producing a lot of runs starting tonight.
Better than Jeremy Guthrie
Dude, I’M better than Jeremy Guthrie. I don’t know anything about you, but I’d wager that YOU are probably better than Jeremy Guthrie. LOL 😉
Jose Marmelejos is now one of my favorite names in baseball.
I enjoyed watching him pitch for the Twins for a handful of starts. Unfortunately for the other 20 or so starts he could have used a football helmet on the mound to better protect himself. I hope he has figured it out and sticks around for a while.
FIP/xFIP down there was 3.30/3.46. If the Nats had a better defense, I’d be ok with this. They should play Taylor in center for his starts, Soto is going to be getting a workout in left field.
Was it really nine months ago the the Nats, and every fan, realized that they were in dire need of a # 3 pitcher ???
As humbling as that last Jeremy Guthrie start may have been for him, at least Guthrie knew that there wasn’t any more major-league caliber baseball left in that arm when he finally called it quits.
Milone a starter in your rotation? It’s over.
– Mets fans