After skipped start, Irvin showing promising improvement

WASHINGTON -- When the Nationals skipped Jake Irvin’s June 13 start, the objective was to give the rookie right-hander a chance to rest and reset.

That strategy is paying off.

In his first seven starts from his May 3 MLB debut through June 6, Irvin posted a 5.81 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP in 31 innings. In his past four starts, Irvin’s numbers have improved to a 3.18 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in 22 2/3 innings.

That turnaround includes Monday’s performance against the hot-hitting Reds. Irvin delivered six innings with three runs off six hits, including one homer, while allowing only one walk and recording three strikeouts across 89 pitches in the Nationals’ 3-2 loss at Nationals Park.

“It was awesome,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He worked ahead. He threw strikes. His breaking ball was really good. He could throw it for a strike when he needed to. Today, I thought it was a step in the right direction for him. It really was.”

Irvin, 26, had a whirlwind experience coming from Tommy John surgery recovery last season to being called up to the bigs this year. After 10 days of rest between June 7 and June 16, which included time to study game film and make adjustments in bullpen sessions, he is showing the benefits of that time off on the mound.

• First seven starts (May 3-June 6): 31 IP, 5.81 ERA, 23 strikeouts, 20 walks, 4 home runs, 1.68 WHIP
• Next start: Skipped
• Past four starts (June 17-July 3): 22 2/3 IP, 3.18 ERA, 17 strikeouts, 6 walks, 2 home runs, 1.15 WHIP

“It’s been really good. Not only the rest, but the work that he put in in between that to get him squared away with his lower half,” said Martinez. “[Pitching coach Jim] Hickey did a great job with him in trying to get him to understand how that lower half works with him, and he’s been really, really good. He’s throwing the ball on a downward plane, he’s throwing the ball north and south. But really, really, really well. Kudos to him for allowing Hickey to talk to him about it and work on it.”

Irvin opened the series Monday with a 1-2-3 inning, allowed an RBI single to Tyler Stephenson in the second, retired the side in the third and ran into a veteran bat in the fourth.

With Elly De La Cruz on first via a single in the fourth inning, Joey Votto belted a one-out home run to left-center field off Irvin for the lefty hitter's first hit in six games to bolster the Reds’ lead to 3-0. Irvin said of his fastball to Votto, “I missed my spot.”

“I don't care if [Votto’s] hitting .120, .350 -- he's a pure, unbelievable hitter,” Martinez said. “He's been for years. [Irvin] left the ball out over the plate and up -- the one pitch that he made a mistake on all day -- and he paid."

Irvin locked in and concluded his outing with a scoreless fifth, including a strikeout to freeze the electric rookie De La Cruz in the final at-bat. Two of Irvin’s three strikeouts came against De La Cruz, who is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline. Irvin caught De La Cruz looking with a curveball in a three-pitch at-bat in the second inning, allowed a single to left field in the fourth and located a curveball down the middle for a called third strike in a six-pitch battle in the fifth.

“Keep him off balance, attack, go on attack mode,” Irvin said of his approach. “Hitting’s hard; make him hit.”

Irvin is on track to make another start before the All-Star break, when he’ll get more time off. It will be another chance to reflect on his work from the first half of his rookie season and build on what he wants to accomplish in the second.

“I’m just trying to keep us in the ballgame, give us a chance to win every time out, and that’s the biggest thing, for sure,” Irvin said. “Taking steps forward every time and just competing and letting my defense do what they do.”