Nationals at Tigers: Grapefruit League GameThread...

Joe Ross missed significant time on the DL in 2016, with right shoulder inflammation that cost the right-hander two months. He talked this winter about working to make sure that he was healthy and ready for the 2017 campaign, when he was asked if he needed to make mechanical changes to avoid further issues.

“I’m sure there’s some tinkering to be done,” Ross said.

“It just takes some extra looking at video, and a little bit more, I think, pre-Spring Training work going into the year, as far as getting my arm ready, staying on top of my mechanics and things like that. I just feel like sometimes you get into a groove and you try to let it ride and get a little bit away from what I was doing beforehand that got me into the spot to feel good going into the year.”

Upon arriving for the start of Spring Training this season, Ross told reporters, including Washington Post writer Jorge Castillo he noticed his arm wrapping around his back as he went into his delivery. He made a quick fix to what he said was a bad habit.

Going into his third major league season, Ross said his goal this Spring is to continue to work on his changeup. He’s been trying to work it into the mix for several seasons, but thus far in the majors opponents have a .375 AVG against the pitch, something he said he hopes to change.

“I can talk about it as much as I want,” Ross said, “but until I actually throw it and start getting on the mound with it, nothing much is going to change.”

Ross said he planned to pick Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer’s brains and learn what he can from his rotation mates as he prepares for the 2017 campaign.

He gets his first opportunity to work on his changeup against an opposing team this afternoon when he takes on the Detroit Tigers in Grapefruit League action.

Here’s the lineup that will back Ross up at 1:05 PM EDT in Lakeland, FL’s Joker Marchant Stadium: