NEW YORK -- Nationals manager Dusty Baker revealed that reliever Shawn Kelley is dealing with neck tightness, a potential explanation for the drop in velocity the right-hander displayed in his outing Friday night.
"He has a little tightness today in his [neck] that he felt yesterday that they're trying to subside," Baker said Saturday before the Nationals took on the Mets.
Baker went on to describe what Kelley was dealing with as "spasms" and added that he is "a little concerned."
Kelley pitched the ninth inning Friday and allowed a home run to Jay Bruce before finishing off the Mets in the Nats' 7-2 win. However, his velocity was noticeably down from its norm, which was the main cause for Baker's concern.
It's an issue Kelley had not previously dealt with, according to Baker. He said it was too early to tell if a move to the disabled list would be warranted, and that he would stay away from using him Saturday.