The Washington Nationals announced Joe Ross will start Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. Ross earned the nod over fellow right-hander Reynaldo Lopez.
The start is Ross’ first of the postseason. After returning from the 60-day disabled list on Sept. 18, Ross threw just 9.2 innings over three starts. He made a start on July 2 then missed the remainder of the month and all of August due to right shoulder inflammation.
In 16 starts prior to his stint on the disabled list, Ross went 7-4 with a 3.49 ERA. He faced the Dodgers in a road start on June 22, allowing just two runs on seven hits, one being a home run, over 6.1 innings pitched.
Ross didn’t factor into the decision of a game the Nationals lost, 4-3, on Yasiel Puig’s walk-off Little League home run.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Nationals skipper Dusty Baker said after Game 3 they were uncertain who would start Tuesday. Los Angeles announced Clayton Kershaw, not Julio Urias, is getting the nod.
Their decision came with added pressure as the Dodgers enter Game 4 needing a win to avoid being eliminated from the first round of the playoffs a third straight year.
By electing to start Ross, the Nationals are holding Max Scherzer for a potential winner-takes-all Game 5 at home on Thursday.
