Matt Belisle may soon be ready to rejoin the Nationals bullpen. He may have to head back to Class AAA Syracuse when Belisle returns, in which case the Nationals bullpen would reestablish its season-opening construction. The Nationals bullpen has functioned fine without him, with the second-best ERA in the National League overall and a 0.57 ERA since May 9, the first game back from their three-city Midwest road trip. He lobbied with Nationals Manager Dusty Baker not to do so, thinking he could just throw a few simulated games and be ready to go. Hours before Sunday’s game, Maddux and bullpen coach Dan Firova, watching film, hoping to make the bullpen better in the interim — though it has performed well so far.

Source: Washington Post May 22, 2016 12:52 UTC