ST. LOUIS — When John Lannan said goodbye to his Washington Nationals teammates at the end of spring training, the young left-hander had a hunch he would see those guys again soon.
Little did Lannan know it would happen one week later.
“I mean, depending on what happened during the season, I thought I’d get a chance,” he said. “I didn’t know if it would be this early or whatever, but I’m glad that I’m here.”
Recalled from Class AAA Columbus late Friday night without ever pitching for the Clippers, Lannan will start today’s series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Because of an off day last Tuesday, the Nationals opened the season with a four-man rotation. They considered asking Tim Redding and Jason Bergmann to pitch on short rest and avoid needing a fifth starter until next week but ultimately decided against it.
So Lannan, who was originally scheduled to start Columbus’ season opener Thursday, was bumped back and he flew to St. Louis on Friday to rejoin the Nationals.
Lannan’s spring performance — he went 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA in five Grapefruit League outings — impressed team officials, and they figured the 23-year-old would get his shot soon enough.
“He was going to be here, regardless, at some point,” manager Manny Acta said. “He is part of our future, and we felt this year we had enough depth that we didn’t have to rush him over here.”
Hill update
Though Shawn Hill has remained on schedule to return to the Nationals’ rotation April 13, team officials aren’t ready to declare their plans for the injured right-hander.
“We’re not making any type of announcements yet,” Acta said. “He still has to pitch again, and we have to see how he does and how he feels.”
Hill, on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right forearm, likely will start Tuesday for Class A Potomac. He threw four innings at extended spring training Thursday, and he needs to build up his pitch count before the club is ready to put him back on a big league mound.
“We feel that he needs to be stretched out so that he can go long enough for us not to overwork our bullpen,” Acta said. “And also effectiveness. He has to show us that he’s fine, that he’s healthy, all of the above.”
Extra bases
First baseman Dmitri Young, whom the Nationals sent to the District on Friday to have his lower back examined by team doctor Ben Shaffer, received an injection yesterday to relieve the inflammation. Young will need to take two or three days to rest and allow the injection to take hold, after which the Nationals will make a decision about his status. …
Closer Chad Cordero threw off a bullpen mound yesterday and said his injured right shoulder felt fine. Cordero, whom the team placed on the 15-day DL late Friday night (retroactive to March 27) with tendinitis, said his mechanics were a bit off after going a week without pitching, but he was encouraged to have thrown without pain. He plans to pitch off a mound again tomorrow and hopes to be activated when he becomes eligible on Friday.
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