Ross will start Tuesday against Atlanta, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander will be pushed back and will pitch on extended rest. He has not made an appearance since April 24. A dismal third start inflated Ross' ERA, but he's pitched well to the tune of one earned run in the other three outings combined.

Ross (2-1) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over six innings in a 7-1 victory over the Mets. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander bounced back from a drubbing at the hands of the Cardinals his last time out, and Ross' only real mistake Saturday resulted in a Michael Conforto solo shot in the fourth inning. He threw 91 pitches (59 strikes) in his second quality start of the season, and he'll carry a 4.64 ERA and 18:7 K:BB through 21.1 innings into his next outing, likely to come during next weekend's home series against the Marlins.

Ross (1-1) took the loss Monday as the Nationals were hammered 12-5 by the Cardinals, coughing up 10 runs on eight hits -- including four home runs -- and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

After two scoreless starts to begin the season, Ross completely fell apart and was unable to keep the ball in the park. He tossed 57 of 85 pitches for strikes before getting the hook after a Paul DeJong grand slam that effectively ended any hope of a Nats comeback. Ross will carry a 5.87 ERA and 14:6 K:BB through 15.1 innings into his next outing, Saturday on the road against the Mets.

Ross (1-0) earned the win Wednesday against the Cardinals after giving up four hits with five strikeouts and one walk over six scoreless innings.

EDGE Analysis

The 27-year-old pounded the zone all afternoon, delivering 63 of 89 pitches for strikes while also throwing a first-pitch strike to 16 of 22 batters faced. Ross is off to an impressive start in 2021 with six hits allowed and a 9:3 K:BB through 11 scoreless innings, and he lines up to face the Cardinals for his second straight outing Monday.

Ross allowed two hits and two walks over five scoreless innings in Friday's loss to the Dodgers. He struck out four and did not factor in the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Making his first start since the 2019 World Series, Ross looked terrific against a tough Dodgers squad. He tossed 40-of-67 shots for strikes and never let a runner past second base. Unfortunately for the 27-year-old, his offense couldn't figure out Walker Buehler in what became a pitcher's duel. Ross will face the Cardinals in St. Louis on Wednesday.

Ross will pitch in a simulated game Wednesday, lining him up to serve as the Nationals' fourth starter this season, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

As the Nationals' fourth starter, Ross would face some difficult assignments to start the year, as he'd line up to pitch against Atlanta on Monday before heading to Los Angeles over the weekend to take on the Dodgers. That makes him unappealing as an early streamer, and he's unappealing over a larger time frame in all but the deepest formats, as he hasn't produced an ERA south of 5.00 since 2016.

Ross was acknowledged as a member of the Nationals' rotation by manager Dave Martinez on Sunday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

"So Corbin will pitch; Joe [Ross] will be back out there in the rotation," Martinez said Sunday when discussing the team's pitching plans for the final week of spring training. "And then Lester will pitch again. Then we'll get Stephen [Strasburg] out there again. We'll try to have more about how we will line this up in the next day or so, because it has been confusing. We're just trying to get guys working. With [Strasburg's] calf strain, with Jonny Lester, we're trying to make sure those guys are healthy." Ross could end up slotting in between lefties Patrick Corbin and Jon Lester rather than simply starting the fifth game of the season, but the Nats' full rotation plans after Opening Day starter Max Scherzer should become clearer this week.

Ross threw 73 pitches over five innings in a simulated game Thursday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander faced off against Erick Fedde, his main competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation. and Ross was a little more efficient with his workload. Both pitchers could begin the year in the rotation if either Stephen Strasburg (calf) or Jon Lester (neck) isn't ready for Opening Day, but if only one spot is available, it appears to be Ross' job to lose at this point in the spring. Through five Grapefruit League innings, Ross has a solid 1.80 ERA and 6:2 K:BB.

Ross touched 95 mph with his fastball while throwing 59 pitches over 3.1 innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League outing against the Mets, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander also impressively fanned Francisco Lindor twice on sliders. Ross averaged 94.1 mph with his heater in 2019 before opting out of last season, so seeing his velocity creep back towards its normal level is encouraging considering his long layoff. He remains on track to open the season in the Nats' rotation, although the health of Jon Lester (neck) will determine whether Ross is filling the No. 4 or No. 5 spot initially.

Ross struck out three batters in 1.2 innings during Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Seeing his first game action of the spring after a few live batting practice sessions, Ross fanned Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith while throwing 39 pitches. The right-hander opted out of 2020 and only tossed 104 innings in 2019 as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery, so there are major question marks surrounding his ability to handle a regular turn in the rotation. That said, the Nats are still expecting him to claim the No. 5 starter role to begin the season. "Similar to riding a bike," Ross said after Monday's outing. "I feel like the extended time off, there's an initial soreness in the offseason. Every pitcher goes through it when you start playing catch again. I went through that in the initial week or two, but it wears off and you kind of get back into throwing shape; the mechanics and the timing come back to you. I feel good right now and pretty fresh."