That means James Shields is slated to start on Wednesday in Seattle and Tyson Ross will get his start on Thursday night when the Nationals open a four-game series against the Padres at Petco Park. Ian Kennedy was already the noted starter on Tuesday night at Safeco Field.
Black said he wasn't necessarily skipping Despaigne, who was pelted for eight runs on 10 hits in five innings during his last start in Thursday night's 11-0 loss to the D-backs.
"Skip? No. I might push him back," Black said. "Pushed back is a little different than skipped.