Across six years and over a thousand innings, Jordan Zimmermann posted a 3.32 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and 70 wins. Those six years in DC also accounted for spells better than those great numbers would suggest. He gave the franchise their first no-hitter on the final game of the regular season and took that into an almost-complete game in the NLDS (shy by one out, as Nats fans will remember). Detroit hasn’t been so lucky with what the starter has been able to gift to them. Friday, the line associated with Zimmermann’s name was 8 IP, 1 R, and 11 K. A handful of starts like these has those in Detroit hoping.
Holding breath for Jordan Zimmermann
Sunday’s Say Hey, Baseball tries to will Jordan Zimmermann to sustained success again.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
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Zimmermann’s contract in DC, with the team who had drafted him in 2007, expired among the rubble from the unpredicted team-wide struggle and the reports that Matt Williams had lost the clubhouse. More than one player struggled on the 2015 Nationals, a team that shied away from grand expectations by losing the NL East to the Mets. Unless you were Bryce Harper, putting up Ted-Williams numbers, things probably weren’t going great for you.
Even after losing velocity on his fastball in 2015 and compensating by using his curveball more than he had since 2010 (at the time, his worst season by ERA), he was still a picture of consistency. But in between (and sometimes through) the above-average and the excellent in DC, he struggled with neck soreness. It’s the same culprit that would eventually seem to be responsible for the then-30-year-old pitcher’s inability to perform with the Tigers. The repeat All-Star posted a 4.87 and a 6.08 ERA in 105.1 and 160 IP respectively in his first two seasons in Detroit to accompany multiple DL stints.
The return from his most recent DL stay looks like a revelation from the outside. In 37 innings since April 30, Zimmerman has a 1.22 ERA, a 6.80 K/BB, and a .70 WHIP. Obviously, his fastball still doesn’t sit around 96 like it once did, but with other weapons, like his slider, he might find more sustainable success. Maybe that doesn’t happen. Some people will always have Paris, Jordan might at least always have these starts in July.
- At the risk of being too Nationals-heavy today, it seemed important that you know Mark Reynolds had 10 RBI Saturday night. 10. 1 - 0. Pretty good.
- The Braves are among the teams that will make an offer for Manny Machado. That’s what this headline says.
- A broken pinkie is keeping Christian Vazquez on the DL. That is, as they say, bad.
- Khris Davis and Jed Lowrie might get extensions from the A’s. If they eat their vegetables and go to bed on time.
- So, the Braves. That’s still a thing, huh?
- David Price was not good. But he wasn’t not good enough.
- Brock Holt is back to being Brock Holt. Good for you, Brock Holt. Never let the haters get you down.
- The Mariners lost. The Mariners lost because they didn’t do well at the things you should do well at in baseball.
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