Mitchell Parker: Everything you need to know

Parker (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday against the Pirates, allowing two hits with no walks and five strikeouts across two scoreless innings. After PJ Poulin and Miles Mikolas combined to surrender four runs on five hits and two walks with two home runs allowed across 4.1 innings, Parker was called on in relief after he was recalled from Triple-A earlier in the day Tuesday. It was an impressive season debut for the left-hander after he failed to make the big-league club out of spring training. With Mikolas continuing to get pummeled to the tune of an 11.49 ERA and six home runs allowed, Parker could be a candidate to replace the veteran in the Nationals' rotation moving forward.

The Nationals recalled Parker from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday. He's absorbing the roster and bullpen spot vacated by Jackson Rutledge. Parker boasts a 16:3 K:BB over 13.1 innings in his first three starts with Rochester this season, though that's come with a 6.08 ERA. The lefty will give the bullpen some length behind Tuesday's scheduled starter, Miles Mikolas, who's lasted a total of just 7.1 frames over his last two starts.

The Nationals optioned Parker to Triple-A Rochester on Friday. Parker lost his spot in the Nationals' rotation last season and didn't do enough this spring to get it back, collecting an uninspiring 3:5 K:BB over 3.2 innings during Grapefruit League action. The left-hander should open the season in the rotation at Rochester as he awaits another opportunity with the big club.