Mitchell Parker named Nationals' fifth starter for season

The Washington Nationals have chosen Mitchell Parker as their fifth starter for the upcoming season. The decision comes after the team sent several players, including left-handers Shinnosuke Ogasawara and DJ Herz, to Triple-A Rochester. Nationals manager Dave Martinez had previously confirmed that MacKenzie Gore, Trevor Williams, Michael Soroka, and Jake Irvin would secure spots in the starting rotation. The last spot was a competition between Parker, Herz, and Ogasawara. Parker was considered the front-runner after a solid rookie season where he had a 4.29 ERA in 29 starts. During Spring Training, Parker performed the best among the three contenders. He allowed five runs, struck out eight, and walked four over 12.1 innings. In contrast, Herz struggled, giving up nine runs and missing the mark with his control. Ogasawara also faced challenges, allowing 19 runs over 12 innings. Ogasawara had signed a two-year deal worth $3.5 million but will now begin his career in the U.S. at Triple-A after posting a decent ERA in Japan. Herz, who debuted in the big leagues last season, also struggled with strike consistency this spring.