Chien-Ming Wang Not Close To Pitching Off Mound

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:

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.

Chien-Ming Wang Injury Will Keep Him Out For Weeks

The front of the Washington Nationals' rotation is very solid and figured out. I shouldn't even refer to it as the front. The first 80 percent of the Washington Nationals' rotation is very solid and figured out. Coming to camp, the Nationals prepared to have a competition for the fifth and final slot, basically between John Lannan and Chien-Ming Wang. But after Thursday, Wang is out, at least for the time being.

During a spring-training game, Wang stumbled making a play at first base and strained his hamstring. Here's how that looks:

Filling in for @washingnats in Tampa. Manager Davey Johnson says Chien-Ming Wang (hamstring) will be out "probably a couple weeks minimum."

— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) March 16, 2012

It's not a major injury, and Wang can still throw. He's not going to lose his arm strength. But it looks like this is going to sideline him into the season, which makes Lannan a handy guy to have around. There had been talk recently of Lannan being a trade candidate, but the Nationals are unlikely to move Lannan while they have a use for him.

Once Wang is back to 100 percent, he'll stand a great chance of claiming that fifth slot. But situations change, so we'll deal with that when it's time to deal with that.

Chien-Ming Wang Leaves Game After Awkward Fall