clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Washington Nationals' Ross Detwiler Has Issue In "Oblique Area"; Expected To Miss Next Start

Washington Nationals' lefty Ross Detwiler got a second opinion on the back issue that led to his early departure last time out in Los Angeles and before tonight's game in San Diego, Nats' skipper Davey Johnson updated reporters on what the team learned and what it meant for the immediate future.

By Patrick Reddington
Justin K. Aller

Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson was asked about the results of the MRI on Ross Detwiler's back after last night's game in San Diego's Petco Park. Detwiler appeared to injure his back running to cover first in his last start in LA earlier this week. According to Johnson, after the first test, the team decided to get a second opinion. "Something a little in there is just bothering him," Johnson explained, "And I think he's going to talk to somebody else tomorrow. The doctor is going to review the film, because there was a little irregularity in there."

Asked if he had any additional details, Johnson added that, "... they just said there was a little irregularity in there and they wanted a specialist to look at it, so we'll see tomorrow."

In an MLB Network Radio interview this afternoon, Nats' GM Mike Rizzo talked about what the plan was for the 27-year-old Nats' '07 1st Round pick. "Det came out with a little bit of some back spasms in his last start," the general manager explained. "We're going to get a broader MRI to show not only the lower back but the oblique and other parts of his body. So we're expanding his MRI. Those results will come out today and we'll see where we're at with him. It looks like he's going to miss his next start which is Monday. He hasn't thrown his side or his bullpen in between starts, so we'll make some decisions on who is going to fill in for his start on Monday."

"If it's just a miss one start type of thing, we may fill it from our bullpen, but if it's going to be a DL type of thing, we may go down to the minor leagues and get a starter for a couple starts." - Nats' GM Mike Rizzo on Ross Detwiler

Asked if it was a call-up or fill-in situation, Rizzo said, "I think we'll make that decision when we get a prognosis of where Det's at. If it's just a miss one start type of thing, we may fill it from our bullpen, but if it's going to be a DL type of thing, we may go down to the minor leagues and get a starter for a couple starts."

"We don't think it's overly too serious though," Rizzo added.

Davey Johnson updated reporters in Petco Park on the latest on Detwiler before tonight's game:

More info when it's available...

More From Federal Baseball