Okay – so maybe the Nationals won’t win the rest of their games. Tough night in Atlanta on Tuesday, an 8-1 loss. John Lannan struggled on the mound and the offense didn’t get to Braves rookie Tommy Hanson when it had the chance early. Hanson threw 28 pitches in the first inning alone and was laboring. But then he started drilling pitches on the outside corner and employing his wicked curve. That was it for the Nats. Haven’t seen a young pitcher as impressive as Hanson all season.
So right-hander Craig Stammen (3-6, 5.40 ERA) goes tonight for Washington. Needless to say, Stammen needs a good start. The 25-year-old rookie has hit a wall recently, going 4 2/3 innings and then 3 and then 1 2/3 in his last three outings. That’s a good way to get dropped from the rotation. Not sure if Stammen has just hit the wall physically. After the Marlins smacked him around for five runs in the first two innings last week, he said emphatically that he felt fine. I’m not so sure about that. His command has been fine for weeks – seven walks total over his last 10 starts (55 2/3 innings). But teams are teeing off on Stammen, who has allowed 23 hits in his last 9 1/3 innings.
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Of course, hardly anyone noticed in two of those three poor starts. Because in one of them teammate Josh Willingham hit two grand slams – an impossibly rare feat. And against Florida, the Nats rallied from 6-0 down to win anyway. But the spotlight is on Stammen now. Considered a potential bullpen piece before the season, he was called upon when the Opening Day rotation imploded and performed admirably. He made his debut May 21. As recently as July 22, Stammen’s ERA was 4.14 and he had strung together five good starts in a row. Ancient history now. He has to bounce back against the Braves. Lineups in a few…
