Nationals manager Davey Johnson told Amanda Comak of the Washington Times on Saturday that right-hander Chien-Ming Wang will pitch out of the bullpen when he’s cleared to return (sometime next week) from his badly-strained left hamstring.
Wang has been making starts in the minors and has appeared in relief only five times in his MLB career, but the Nats don’t want to push Ross Detwiler and his 3.65 ERA out of the rotation. And Washington’s four other starting pitchers have been even better.
Wang, 32, registered a solid 4.04 ERA and 1.28 WHIP across 62 1/3 innings (11 starts) last season. He should do well in a long relief role, and will be first-in-line for spot start duty.
