Nats confident six-man rotation 'will definitely help' 

WASHINGTON -- When the Nationals decided to implement a six-man rotation this week, they knew the bullpen would play a key role in spelling innings. That was seen on Friday, when Joan Adon, officially in the rotation mix for the first time, exited the series opener against the Athletics after three innings.

Adon was warming up for the fourth when he experienced leg cramps in the calf and groin area and was pulled from the game. Multi-role right-hander Cory Abbott was called upon to cover the next 1 1/3 frames. Then Robert Garcia, Jose A. Ferrer and Jordan Weems completed a scoreless bullpen effort in the 8-2 victory at Nationals Park.

“We went to a six-man bullpen -- and they did well,” manager Dave Martinez said with a laugh. “I’m proud of the guys. It’s hard when your pitcher comes out like that. … We try to plan it so the next couple days, these guys will be available in case something does happen. They all did well.”

The Nationals have been keeping a close eye on the workload of their starting rotation all year, especially since for many, this is the first experience of going through an extended season in the Major Leagues. As the innings totals grew in mid-August, Martinez announced on Wednesday the team will incorporate Adon into the group of left-hander Patrick Corbin, right-hander Josiah Gray, left-hander MacKenzie Gore, right-hander Trevor Williams and right-hander Jake Irvin.

“Only time will tell how it’s really going to work,” Martinez said on Wednesday. “But it’s more about keeping these guys healthy, getting them through the rest of the year and making sure that this winter they’re ready to do their winter program and be ready for Spring Training.”

There are factors to be aware of with the pitching staff: Gray is coming off a 2022 season in which he more than doubled his innings from ‘21; Gore was sidelined last season as a rookie and did not appear in a game after July 25; Williams pitched out of the bullpen for the majority of last season; Irvin is two years removed from missing the entire ‘21 season because of Tommy John surgery.

After consulting with the coaching staff, medical staff and strength coaches, Martinez determined this was a beneficial course of action.

“We really tried to hone in on what will be the best for the guys,” he said. “Stretching them out 10, 12 days, I don’t think that’s necessarily a good thing because they’ve got to re-amp themselves. … But maybe shorter stints -- six days, seven days, even eight days -- will definitely work.

“We’re going to try to stretch them out as far as we can until the end of the year, we’ll see how it goes. We’re building a team for the future and for many, many years, and I want to make sure that -- especially with guys like Jake and MacKenzie that both have been injured in the past -- we take care of them.”

Irvin, who is scheduled to make his 18th start of the season on Saturday, sees the benefits.

“I know MacKenzie and I have never had this workload in the past, so it’s big to give our arms a break in that sense,” Irvin said. “But [it’s] also just an extra day to kind of gather your thoughts and mentally prepare for what you get in every sixth day now versus every fifth day.”

Gore already has pitched 47 more frames this season than he did in 2022.

“We all know I was hurt last year, I didn’t pitch many innings, so that’s a real thing that we’re going to have to deal with,” Gore said. “It’s going to be good. … Six-man’s great. I pitched with it last year in San Diego. We’re just going to get a little extra rest, we’ll be fresh.”

Friday’s game was an early example of how the bullpen can lend itself toward the success of this approach. The Nats value multiple-innings relievers, and emphasize that role even as players are rehabbing from injuries. Right-hander Thaddeus Ward, who is recovering from right shoulder inflammation, is getting stretched out in his bullpen sessions at the Nationals training complex in Florida. A starter previously in the Red Sox organization, Ward has built up to 40 pitches with a goal of reaching 60 to 65.

“The biggest thing is for him to be healthy, but if we can stretch him out and he can give us some length, that’d be great,” said Martinez, adding, “I’d like him to do four [innings], if possible. Right now, Cory’s that guy. Having another guy like that right now, especially with the six-man rotation, will definitely help.”