Gio Gonzalez preparing to make first start after brief stint in bullpen

The Washington Nationals chose to skip starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez during the first week. The main reason is because the schedule is odd.

Washington opened the season Monday at the Atlanta Bravens. It had the next day, Gonzalez’s planned rotation spot, off. It then played Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon and would be off again on Friday. Keeping Stephen Strasburg on his regular rest, which meant he pitched Wednesday in Atlanta, bumped Gonzalez back to Monday, when the Braves will play at Washington.
Gonzalez spent the first two games in the bullpen having fun and learning a different perspective. He was available in an emergency or as long relief.
Finally, Gonzalez can prepare for his start.

“I feel like I’m still in spring training mode since I haven’t gotten ready,” Gonzalez said. “I can’t wait to get the ball. I’m just real antsy. Been hanging around the bullpen, seeing these guys, how they worked down there.”

Gonzalez said Mike Maddux told him in spring training that the rotation may shake out in such a way. Nationals manager Dusty Baker said throughout the spring he would like to slot the left-handed Gonzalez in between Strasburg and Max Scherzer, the team’s hard-throwing right-handers. That’s how the rotation will line up after the first time through: Scherzer will pitch again on Sunday, then Gonzalez will receive his first turn.

“I understood it immediately,” Gonzalez said. “As long as I get the ball every five days, I’m completely understanding. We have four other starters that could be aces in any other rotation. I want to be out there and compete just as much as they are. As soon as I get the ball, I know I’m going to be 100 percent ready.”

Gonzalez last pitched on March 27. He went six innings and walked none. That outing has Gonzalez pleased that he was able to leave Florida on a high note, but he’s still a bit wary of all the time off between starts.

“It’s almost like a hitter,” Gonzalez said. “You go so long without swinging the bat, kind of rusty. Once you get back in the groove, once you start hitting that strike zone, and getting your arm slot where you want to be, I think it’s almost like riding a bike.”