Brad Lord News: Returning to bullpen

Lord will move back to the bullpen after starting the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Guardians, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. The right-hander was the pitcher of record in the Nationals' 9-1 loss to the Guardians in Game 2, dropping to 1-4 after allowing three earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out four over six innings.

With Michael Soroka (biceps) due to return from the injured list Wednesday, Lord will be squeezed out of the rotation and will shift to a relief role. After taking the loss Tuesday despite delivering a quality start, the 25-year-old righty has a 4.45 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 21:11 K:BB across 28.1 innings over nine appearances (six starts). He'll likely be first in line to join the rotation the next time an opening emerges.