Nationals option Adon to Triple-A after losing MLB-worst 10th game

For much of the 2022 season, Nationals starting pitchers Joan Adon and Patrick Corbin have gone back and forth for the most losses in the major leagues. 

On Tuesday, Adon lost his MLB-worst 10th game after allowing seven hits and eight runs in the Nationals’ 12-2 loss to the Marlins. The defeat — the worst start of Adon’s season — put the 23-year-old rookie two losses ahead of Corbin and three ahead of a handful of other pitchers. 

But Adon won’t remain atop that unfortunate leaderboard for much longer, as the Nationals optioned the right-hander to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday. Washington recalled left-handed reliever Sam Clay, and manager Dave Martinez told reporters Wednesday that the club is still figuring out who will replace Adon in the rotation next week. 

Through 12 starts, Adon’s 6.95 earned-run average is also the worst among qualified starting pitchers, and his 35 walks are by far the most in the big leagues. 

“He works hard,” Martinez said after the loss. “He’s just got to keep working. One thing I talked to him a little bit ago about was his changeup. He didn’t throw any changeups today. He needs to mix that in. We talk about that a lot, and he hasn’t done it.”