After spending most of the 2012 baseball season , veteran pitcher John Lannan may finally be getting his call up to the show. Again.
As rookie phenom Steven Strassburg is close to reaching his innings limit and being shut down for the year by the organization and with the September call-ups right around the corner, the graduate may see action as Washington makes a push toward its first-ever playoff appearance.
Currently the Nationals are in first place in the NL East, sitting 5 games ahead of Atlanta.
After this off-season, the lefty starter was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse at the end of spring training after being the opening day starter for the past two seasons.
Washington had chosen Ross Detwiler in the number five slot at the beginning of the year. Detwiler had a 3.06 ERA during spring training as compared to Lannan’s 5.14.
According to the Washington Post, Lannan is the “leading candidate” to take the final spot in the rotation when the rosters expand on September 1 and has been “performing well” in the minors, putting up a 4.89 ERA in 130 2/3 innings at Syracuse. He was also named the IL pitcher of the week for August 20-26, becoming the third Syracuse pitcher in five weeks to accomplish the feat.
During two call-ups this year, Lannan allowed 5 runs over 13 innings of work.
The “Pride of Long Beach” had a 4.15 ERA his rookie year and was credited with a career-high 10 wins during the 2011 season with a 3.70 ERA, also a career-best in 33 game appearances. Lannan is currently listed on the 40-man roster.
Update: According to The Washington Times, Lannan will assume the No. 5 spot in the rotation, but will join the team after September 3 and be on a schedule that will match Strassburg, lining him up to take that pitching spot.
“I think it’s” going to pretty much coincide fairly close with when Stephen’s shut down,” (Washington Nationals Manager Davey) Johnson said. “I think the timing is that he’s lined up almost the same day.”
Strassburg is expected to make his final start of the 2012 regular season on either September 12 or 19.
