Nats activate Fister, adjust rotation order
To make room for right-hander, Washington options Hill to Triple-A
WASHINGTON -- With right-hander Doug Fister getting the start in Thursday's 5-3 loss, Joe Ross will pitch Friday against the Pirates, followed by Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
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In his first game back, Fister had mixed results. Through his first five innings, he allowed only one run. In the sixth, he was charged with four earned runs. In 5 1/3 total frames, the right-hander allowed nine hits and struck out three.
Manager Matt Williams didn't say what would happen to Tanner Roark, a quality starter who has replaced Fister since the middle of May. Roark will most likely go back to the bullpen, while Stephen Strasburg will likely get the start against the Braves on Tuesday.
A day after getting a rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg, Strasburg felt good, and he threw on flat ground at Nationals Park on Thursday.
To replace Fister on the roster, the Nationals sent Taylor Hill to Triple-A Syracuse. Hill spent most of his time as a long reliever, made six appearances and posted a respectable 3.75 ERA.
"He has a sinker or slider. It's important to him to keep the ball down and induce ground balls that he can get when he is throwing the ball low in the strike zone," Williams said. "He has been pressed into duty a couple of times in mid-game. … But he has done well."