SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
ATLANTA — The seam marks from the baseball that struck Tim Redding‘s right elbow are still visible when he isn’t wearing a wrap. But the pitcher and the Washington Nationals remain optimistic that he’ll rejoin the rotation well before the end of the season.
Redding will miss his start at Florida on Tuesday for sure. How many more starts left-hander Mike Bacsik will make in his place remains uncertain.
“It’s still a little stiff and tender,” Redding said yesterday. “But I’m an optimist. I’m encouraged that it doesn’t feel worse.
Redding was struck by a hard comebacker in Wednesday night’s game against the Florida Marlins at RFK Stadium, and the injury looked much more serious at first than just a bruise.
“I’ll know more after I throw, but I hope I’m not out too long,” said the right-hander, who might test the elbow as soon as Monday.
“It’s important to me to come back and pitch a couple more times this season,” Redding said. “I’d been pitching pretty well, and I don’t want the season to end like this.
“I’ve come back from injuries quicker than expected before, and I want to do it again,” the 29-year-old added.
Redding is 3-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 12 starts. Bacsik is 5-8 with a 4.65 ERA in 22 games, 19 of them starts. He allowed one unearned run in two innings in relief last night.
Favorable matchup
Left-handed starters have fared well against Atlanta this season and Matt Chico, tonight’s starter for the Nationals, is one of them.
Chico (5-7) is 2-1 against the Braves this season, the victories coming in his last two starts. He has a 2.87 ERA.
Atlanta is 26-31 in games started by left-handers this season and has struggled the most against pitchers who aren’t hard throwers. That includes Chico.
“In those games [against the Braves], he pitched ahead and was able to change speeds,” Nationals manager Manny Acta said.”When you’re left-handed and can do those things, you usually have success. He needs to throw strikes, because he isn’t overpowering.”
Young well-rested
Dmitri Young returned to the lineup hopefully refreshed after a 3-for-17 stretch lowered his average to .330, fifth in the National League before yesterday’s games.
“He needed the time off,” Acta said. “He was fouling off pitches he usually hits. I thought the two days would do him good.”
The first baseman sat out the homestand finale Wednesday, then got the extra benefit of an off day Thursday.
Braves shortstop Edgar Renteria, one the players ahead of Young in the batting race (.336), came off the disabled list yesterday but is likely to see only limited action this weekend.
Dominican champs
The Nationals, committed to rebuilding their farm system, won the championship in the Dominican Summer League, beating out the New York Yankees’ team.
“We’re very proud of our players,” Acta said. “I think it’s a big step for us as an organization.”
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