BY TODD JACOBSON
WASHINGTON--Ideally, the Nationals would be able to ease right-hander Levale Speigner into his rookie season, tucking him away in the bullpen and trotting him out only when necessary.
Such is the life for Rule 5 draft picks rushed to the majors, but injuries to the Nationals' starting rotation have forced Speigner into a heavy workload. The Nationals, and their rookie right-hander, have suffered.
In three starts, Speigner has given up 17 runs in 10 innings (14.80 ERA), forcing the Nationals to reconsider whether he'll make a fourth starting appearance.
"We're still weighing our options and working on it," manager Manny Acta said before last night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Right-hander Matt Chico's will start Friday, taking Speigner's normal spot in the rotation, but the Nationals haven't decided who will start Saturday.
Triple-A right-hander Joel Hanrahan is one option. A hamstring injury sidelined the former Dodgers prospect for close to a month, but he returned to the mound Monday and threw 69 pitches in three scoreless innings against the Pawtucket Red Sox.
Acta said Speigner also remains a possibility, but the Nationals must consider how another rough outing might affect the rookie's psyche.
Speigner pitched just 11 games above Double-A before Washington grabbed him from the Minnesota Twins in the Rule 5 Draft in December. By rule, Speigner must stay on Washington's 25-man roster all season or be offered back to the Twins for $25,000.
"He had to be out there and pitch and it's been tough on the kid," Acta said. "I don't think it's going to affect his confidence at all. He knows from the long-term plans we have here we don't have him as a starter."
Speigner had success this season as a reliever, going 1-0 with a 3.77 ERA before he was moved into the starting rotation.
He couldn't pinpoint his problems as a starter, but it likely centers on his ability to pitch in the strike zone. He struggled with his control early in the season, but he's been hit hard since trying to pitch around the plate (23 hits in 10 innings).
"It affects your confidence a little bit but I'm here, so I have to learn to trust what I've got and learn how to make that work," Speigner said. "That's another struggle in itself."
As for Washington's injured starters, right-hander John Patterson threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session yesterday, Jerome Williams tested his sore right shoulder by playing catch Monday and Shawn Hill remained optimistic after a weekend throwing session.
But there remains no certain return date for any of the Nationals' four injured starting pitchers, Acta said. That includes right-hander Jason Bergmann, who hasn't pitched since having fluid drained from his sore right elbow Thursday.
"We still don't have a timetable for any of those guys," Acta said.
Patterson said he felt no pain during his first bullpen session since being placed on the 15-day disabled list May 6 with a sore right elbow and biceps.
"It's not far off," Patterson said. "I am trying not to be too hard on myself at this point. Of course I want it to be better but we're definitely making some progress. We're heading in the right direction."
'Hopefully this year'Nick Johnson's rehabilitation workouts are getting more strenuous, but the first baseman's recovery from a broken right femur continues to progress slowly.
"I feel like I'm getting a little stronger. I'm going to keep working at it," said Johnson, who was able to sprint at close to full speed before last night's game and has fielded grounders and taken batting practice. "Going from side to side is getting better. I still can't do it how I want to. I just have to keep pushing."
As for when he might return to the field, Johnson couldn't say.
"Hopefully this year," he said.
Young sitsFirst baseman Dmitri Young was out of Washington's starting lineup as he continued to recover from a collision with Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen Sunday. Young hurt his lower back in the collision at first base, but said Monday his left hip began hurting. "I'm fine," Young said. "I can go play [Wednesday] if needed."
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