Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman allowed eight runs in three innings of work against the Cardinals this afternoon. Speaking to the media after the game, manager Davey Johnson said his right-hander was suffering from a “dead arm”. Via MLB.com’s Bill Ladson:
“About this time of spring, the pitchers are going through a little dead arm. I think [Zimmermann] had a little dead arm,” Johnson said. “He got some treatment. There is nothing to be worried about.”
Zimmermann, who finished the regular season with a 2.94 ERA in 195.2 innings, is the #3 in the Nationals’ rotation behind Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez. He did not blame his poor performance on his dead arm, instead giving credit to the opposition. He said, “When I did make some good pitches today, they put some good wood on it and hit a few down the line.”