Taylor Jordan and Tanner Roark were competing with one another for the fifth spot in the Washington Nationals rotation. Both will now start the season with the Nationals as pitcher Doug Fister will start the year on the disabled list.
It appeared as if Roark was winning the competition for the final spot in the Nationals rotation. Now the two will have more time to showcase themselves. Currently no timetable has been placed on the return of Fister who left a game on Thursday with a lat strain.
Fister had also dealt with elbow inflammation this spring . The Nationals do not feel like pushing things to start the season and will simply allow Fister to come back when healthy.
Last season Fister made 33 appearances for Detroit posting a 14-9 record, 3.67 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP across 208 2/3 innings of work.
Fister and the Nationals agreed on a $7.2 million contract in February to avoid arbitration. The Nationals picked up Fister in a trade with Detroit for Steve Lombardozzi, Ian Krol and Robbie Ray.
