Washington Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin won’t pitch for the rest of the 2021 season. Nationals manager Dave Martinez made the announcement Wednesday, saying Corbin had a blister on his finger.
Corbin pitched six innings allowing two earned runs in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies. His status for his last scheduled start was up as late as last night. However, the decision was made to mercifully shut Corbin down.
There was no question, this season was the worst of the veteran left-hander’s career. Corbin posted a 9-16 record in 31 starts this season.
His 5.82 ERA is a career-worst and the worst in all of MLB. He allowed a Nationals’ franchise record 37 home runs, which led the National League. He also allowed the most earned runs (111) in the league.
Mechanical flaws were at the height of his struggles. They were a carryover from the 2020 pandemic-shortened season in which he was just 2-7 as a starter with a 4.66 ERA.
In a season in which Stephen Strasburg suffered a season-ending neck injury and Max Scherzer was traded at the July 30 deadline, the spotlight was bright on Corbin.
Patrick Corbin finished the season with four of his last five starts going at least six innings and allowing three or fewer runs. Now he will hope that finish will carry over into the 2022 season.
Corbin will return next season at the age of 32 for his fourth year of a six-year, $140 million deal with the Nationals. The hope is he will be near the top of the rotation alongside Strasburg as Washington hopes to take another step in their current rebuild.
