The last time we all saw Joe Ross pitch in a Washington Nationals uniform was Game 5 of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park. Ross started that game in place of Max Scherzer, who was unable to play due to some neck issues. It was a familiar spot for Ross, who had started games in August in place of an injured Scherzer. During that time frame, Ross posted a 2.75 ERA  in 39 1/3 innings over 8 starts, with the Nats winning seven of them.

The crowd at Nationals Park that October night was very supportive of Ross, rooting him on with every pitch he threw. Unfortunately, the result in that World Series game wasn't something that you would want to remember. The Nats lost that game, but Ross saved some of the bullpen by going five innings just two days after throwing 19 pitches in relief in Game 3. Also, Washington got to see one of their young pitchers outside of the "Big Three" step up and take the ball under the bright spotlight of a World Series Game.

Fast forward to this year's spring training, and the big question that the Nationals need to figure out is whether Ross is going to be their fifth starter this season. During this Spring Training, Ross has been solid, and it looks like the 27-year-old right-hander might have stepped up and wrestled that role from both Austin Voth and Erick Fedde.

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After opting out of last season for health reasons, some questioned how Ross would perform after almost 16 months off. From the ways he's pitched in Spring Training, it doesn't look like the year off has affected him one bit. Ross is 1-0 and has surrendered one earned run and scattered three hits over five innings in two appearances.

But it would be best if you looked a bit closer at those stats. For example, in a recent matchup against New York Mets, Ross fanned shortstop Francisco Lindor twice on sliders, which was his second most used pitch back in 2019.

During this season's Spring Training, Ross has six strikeouts and only two walks so far. In his first outing of the 2021 Spring Training, Ross faced seven batters, threw 39 pitches over 1 1/2 innings, struck out three, and walked one while only allowing a run and a hit. In his second spring training start, Ross "looked really good," according to Manager Davey Martinez, and threw 47 pitches. At the end of his second outing, his pitching line was three innings with two unearned runs on two hits while striking out three.

"I felt really good today getting pretty much up to 60... and I would have liked to stay in the game, obviously I know this is a Spring Training game, but just getting myself into a little bit of trouble, I would like to try to work out of that, one on, two guys out, that I'm sure will come up during the regular season," said Ross to reporters via Zoom after his second outing was completed.

It should be really interesting, and I am sure that many eyes will be on Ross for his next Spring Training start, which could come sometime this weekend.

No matter what happens for the rest of Spring Training, it looks like Ross will be an integral part of the Washington Nationals pitching staff for 2021. With the core four already in place, Joe Ross could be a reliable starter when someone needs a night off or gives Dave Martinez the ability to stretch out the rotation.

Edited by: Jonathan Mailloux

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