Mark Melancon

Nationals among teams in on Pirates' Mark Melancon

The Washington Nationals have inquired on Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Mark Melancon, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

What It Means:

Rosenthal also mentioned that the Nationals have put in a call for Wade Davis, clearly indicating they want to bolster their relief with Jonathan Papelbon struggling. Rosenthal noted there are "multiple teams" in pursuit of Melancon, and despite the Pirates currently hunting for the National League Wild Card spot, they remain willing to part ways with the impending free agent.

Melancon's 3.47 xFIP is much higher than his 1.51 ERA, suggesting he's had some help during his 41 2/3 innings of work this season. However, his 23.31 strikeout percentage is slightly above his career-average (22.63 percent). Our models currently project him to twirl a 2.15 ERA and 22.68 strikeout percentage over the remainder of the year.