The Washington Nationals’ bullpen and lineup, both stretched because of injuries, could get a major dose of relief by next week.
Closer Chad Cordero will make another rehab appearance for Class A Potomac today and should be activated from the 15-day disabled list either tomorrow or Sunday provided his shoulder tendinitis doesn’t flare up. And general manager Jim Bowden said left fielder Wily Mo Pena went 3-for-3 with a homer and double in an extended spring training game yesterday, which has the Nationals moving up his rehab schedule.
He will play left field today at extended spring training and tomorrow and Sunday at Class AAA Columbus. Bowden said he’s hopeful Pena is playing for the Nationals by next weekend, if not earlier.
“We’ll take it day-by-day,” Bowden said. “We’re very, very pleased with his progress.”
It’s hard to judge which player’s return would mean more to the Nationals; Pena would bring a legitimate power threat to the sixth spot in a lineup that has struggled to score consistently, while manager Manny Acta hasn’t set up his bullpen for favorable late-inning matchups in Cordero’s absence.
The Nationals have used Jon Rauch in the ninth inning of all three of his outings this season, and Cordero’s return would move Rauch back to the setup role.
Cordero, who hasn’t pitched this season, said he’s ready to return to Washington’s bullpen.
“My arm felt good. I’m looking forward to coming off [the disabled list],” Cordero said. “I think they had me around 87 [mph on the radar gun]. I only throw 88, which is normal for me. Velocity really doesn’t get anybody out.”
Left fielder Elijah Dukes, however, doesn’t seem to be on the way back anytime soon. Bowden said the Nationals won’t put Dukes back on the field until his strained hamstring has fully healed.
Bowden reacts to pitching
Judging from the general manager’s comments yesterday, the starting rotation — not the bullpen or the starting lineup — is the Nationals’ biggest area of concern. Bowden warned he has “lots of moves I could make” to swap out struggling pitchers — not necessarily just sending a starter to the minors once Shawn Hill returns from the disabled list.
Conventional logic had either Matt Chico or John Lannan heading to Class AAA Columbus once Hill recovers from the forearm soreness that has kept him out the entire regular season. But Bowden’s comments suggested Jason Bergmann could be in the conversation after surrendering seven runs in five innings on Wednesday night.
“I don’t like watching starting pitchers give up seven runs a game,” he said. “I don’t want our fans to have to watch that. So I’m looking for pitchers that are going to stand up and get people out, keep us in ballgames.”
Bowden brought up Collin Balester’s six innings of one-hit ball for Columbus yesterday, and while his comments likely were directed at the team’s starters, the Nationals will have a move to make when Hill returns.
Bergmann had put things in perspective after an angry reaction to his start Wednesday but made it clear he won’t forget about it quickly.
“My goal is not to give up five runs or seven runs,” he said. “But if this game was easy, everyone would do it, so I’ve just got to keep working.”
Casto out six weeks
Kory Casto, who was playing right field for Columbus, is out six weeks after breaking the hamate bone on his right hand, a team spokesman said.
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