Hellickson’s stay with Nats likely at an end

ATLANTA — Jeremy Hellickson's fourth-inning walk to the dugout was direct and final, the trek of a man destined for disappointment, of a veteran who hoped only to prove he was healthy, yet couldn't complete the task.

In his first start in a month, which came in a 7-1 Washington Nationals win, Hellickson had thrown three innings when he came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out — his second at-bat since missing time with a sprained wrist. He fouled off a pitch and felt shooting pain in that wrist. He hoped he could take a few pitches and get out of there, but he realized the bases were loaded and forced himself to swing at the next pitch, too. He missed it and walked off the field, certain by then that he had reaggravated that wrist injury — and relatively sure his season would end there.

Hellickson had allowed an unearned run on two hits, and he was followed by 4 2⁄ innings of scoreless re

3 lief from Jefry Rodriguez. The Nationals tied a franchise record that dates back to the organization's days in Montreal by collecting 14 walks, which helped provide plenty of run support. Juan Soto set his daily record, stealing three bases to become the youngest player to do that since 1900. Rickey Henderson, MLB's stolen base king, was 20 years old when he first did it.

But for Hellickson, the day was devastating, even if his loss will not devastate this now-crowded rotation. The Nationals had little room for Hellickson to begin with, which is why Saturday's start seemed so important to the veteran's future. If he pitched so well they could not ignore him, perhaps he would earn another start. But at this time of year, after a season like this, the whole thing illustrated a different side of the big leagues, the way one day can change a player's season and career with barely a moment's notice.

"It's definitely really frus- trating. All three of these injuries have been pretty frustrating. All three out of my control," Hellickson said. "I love taking the ball every fifth day and competing and just going out there with these guys. To only make 19 starts, it sucks."

Saturday against the Atlanta Braves might have been his last start of 2018 anyway. With Erick Fedde and Joe Ross healthy, the Nationals had five pitchers for a fiveman rotation, and they did not want to expand to six.