WASHINGTON -- Right-hander Tanner Roark was optioned to Class A Advanced Potomac on Tuesday with a specific agenda: increase his pitch count.
"It gives him an opportunity to stretch out a little bit not knowing how the whole month of September is going to go, and it prepares him for starting if we need to have him do that," Nationals manager Matt Williams said before Tuesday's opener against the Padres. "Potomac gives him the opportunity to be close, and we're not necessarily concerned with the competition that he's going to face. It's about increasing his pitch count."
With starter Joe Ross on an undisclosed innings limit and a corresponding move for Denard Span's activation off the disabled list necessary, the Nats decided to option Roark, a former 15-game winner, and stretch him out.