Last Thursday, Nationals rotation hopeful Chien-Ming Wang stumbled trying to make a play at first base in a game and wound up with a strained hamstring. It didn't seem like a major injury, but it looked like it could sideline Wang into the regular season. Wednesday, Davey Johnson revealed that the situation is a little more serious than it might have seemed:
Chien-Ming Wang Not Close To Pitching Off Mound
Davey has serious doubts Wang will get on a mound within a month. "He's got a lot of bleeding in there."
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) March 21, 2012
So Wang has a strain, but he has one of them nastier strains, instead of the more benign variety. He will recover in time, but his recovery won't be quick. That's good news for John Lannan, who should begin the regular season as the Nationals' fifth starter. That's bad news for the teams reportedly interested in trading for John Lannan, since now the Nationals have a need. Of course, the teams reportedly interested in trading for John Lannan would probably be satisfied adding any number of other pitchers, since John Lannan isn't particularly special.
If Lannan pitches well, he could hold on to his rotation spot. If he struggles, Wang will have a job waiting for him when he’s healthy.
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