LOS ANGELES -- Much of the Nationals’ optimism entering this season centered around their revamped starting rotation. They essentially swapped out starters Tanner Roark and Gio Gonzalez from last season in exchange for Patrick Corbin, the most-sought-after free agent starter on the market, and Aníbal Sánchez, who was coming off a resurgent 2018 that seemed to have resurrected his career.

The early results have not been promising for the 35-year-old veteran, however, as Sanchez has routinely struggled to pitch deep into games. He lasted just 4 1/3 innings on Friday night, giving up a ton of hard contact to the tune of six Dodgers hits and a pair of home runs by Joc Pederson in the Nationals’ 5-0 loss at Dodger Stadium.

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It marked the seventh time in eight starts that Sanchez has failed to complete at least six innings. He has failed to last even five innings in his last two outings. Through his first eight starts in Washington, he is 0-6 with a 5.27 ERA.

“I’m totally disappointed,” Sanchez said. “I’m working to go deeper in the game, and, unfortunately, I don’t know what’s going on. My pitch count goes high so quick even when we try to attack the hitters. But I’m ready to tear down everything and keep working.”

Sanchez revamped his career by adjusting his pitch mix a year ago, cutting down on his fastball and throwing his changeup and cutter more frequently. He has continued using that pitch mix this season, but the results have not followed. His ERA through eight starts seems much more in line with his inflated numbers from 2015-17, instead of the 2.83 ERA he posted in 2018 during his career revival. Meanwhile, Roark owns a 3.27 ERA in eight starts with the Reds.

Sanchez has shown the ability to make adjustments before to work himself out of a funk on the mound, and the Nats are hoping these adjustments will come quickly if they are going to get on the winning streak they believe they are capable of. Washington has not won back-to-back games since April 17-18.

“Many years on this level, I fought through everything and I need to continue to work,” Sanchez said. “At some point, everything is going to change for good. So as long as I continue healthy, I think I can do something good on the mound.”

A starting point would be giving the Nationals more innings each time he takes the mound.

While some teams are shying away from requiring starting pitchers to face an opposing lineup three or more times in an outing, the Nationals still count on their starters to carry the majority of the workload. And the more innings from their starters, the less pressure on their beleaguered bullpen. Sanchez’s short starts have in turn put more onus on a bullpen that despite being called on for the fewest innings in the Majors (107 1/3) still began the night with the highest ERA (6.29) in MLB, by far.

So, the Nats need Sanchez to be more consistent. His 4.89 FIP indicates that he has pitched more effectively than his ERA gives him credit for, and the Nationals’ league-worst defense has not done him any favors.

The key for the Nationals is turning the soft contact Sanchez generates and turning them into outs earlier into games.

“He’s technically a guy he’s going to throw a lot of pitches,” catcher Kurt Suzuki said. “Because he’s going to try and trick guys. He’s trying to move the ball around and things like that. He’s trying to manipulate the ball. He’s technically going to throw a lot of pitches, but he’s going to give you a chance to win every night. And that’s what he’s done so far this year.”