Brad Lord is a band-aid for the Washington Nationals pitching staff

In his rookie season, Brad Lord has been the pitching version of a super utility man for the Washington Nationals

Brad Lord is back in the starting rotation! In his rookie season, the former 18th round pick has been a bright spot in what has been a very disappointing pitching staff. He has been going back and forth between roles and excelling in all of them.

A starter in the Minor Leagues, Lord was the story of Spring Training as a reliever. He surprisingly broke camp as a bullpen arm despite competing with more highly touted arms. However, Lord was forced to adapt quickly.

When Michael Soroka got injured in his first start, Lord was thrown back in to starting duties. After settling in to the bullpen role, Lord had to build up. His first couple starts only went about 3-4 innings. However, he began to get built up and was handling a starter workload in late April and early May.

He did not set the baseball world alight as a starter, but he did quality work as a back of the rotation starter. Lord posted a 4.44 ERA in his six starts this season. After not going five innings in his first four starts due to his lack of build up, Lord showed he could handle a real starters workload.

Lord went five and six innings in his last two starts. He was beginning to look like he belonged in the rotation. However, just as he was gaining momentum, Michael Soroka came back, forcing Lord to the bullpen.

It took Lord a couple outing to adjust to his new role. He gave up two runs in his first two appearances after returning to the ‘pen. However, as has become his trademark, Lord adapted to the role.

Brad Lord turned himself into one of if not the best bullpen option on the Washington Nationals. As a reliever, Lord now has a 2.79 ERA in 29 outings. In the bullpen, Lord was capable of filling so many roles.

He was used as a long man who could go multiple innings. However, he also got some action as a higher leverage reliever who went one inning. He did it all and did it at a high level. Whatever the Washington Nationals have asked Brad Lord to do, he has done it and done it well.

Now, with Trevor Williams out for the season, the Nats are asking Brad Lord to adapt again. He is going back into the rotation to be the fifth starter. Lord is getting his first start tonight against Reds phenom Chase Burns. While both are rookie arms, they have traveled very different paths to get to the show. Now they will face off.

As was the case the last time he went into the rotation, there will be a ramp up period for Lord. Despite the bullpen being pretty taxed, Lord is not expected to go more than 3 or 4 innings tonight. The recent arrival of Konnor Pilkington does provide the Nats with a much needed new arm.

Brad Lord will not be the flashiest starter in the world, but he should get the job done. His low arm slot is just tough for hitters to see and with a velocity bump, his fastball really gets on hitters.

For a guy that was working at Home Depot in the offseason, Brad Lord has done a great job carving a role for himself in the big leagues. He is both an inspirational underdog story and a vital part of the Washington Nationals pitching staff.