By Barry Svrluga
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Washington Nationals closer Chad Cordero enters a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles with 99 saves in his four-year big league career, and he's almost certain to become the second-youngest player ever with 100.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez is the youngest player with 100 saves, reaching the milestone on Sept. 10, 2006. Rodriguez was 24 years 247 days old.

Chad Cordero is 25 years 85 days old. Currently, the second-youngest player with 100 saves is former Orioles closer Gregg Olson, who recorded his 100th when he was 25 years 205 days old -- in 1992.

More important to the Nationals is that Cordero is pitching better. Since returning from bereavement leave -- when he left to deal with the death of his grandmother -- on May 15, he has converted all four of his save opportunities, allowed one run in 14 appearances for a 0.64 ERA and opposing hitters are batting .149 against him. Before he left the club, Cordero had a 4.70 ERA with a .338 opponents' average.

A slew of injured pitchers have three-inning, 50-pitch rehabilitation starts Friday all over the club's minor league system.

Right-hander John Patterson threw 35 pitches in a two-inning simulated game on Sunday at Class A Potomac and will make his start for the P-Nats at Frederick. Right-hander Jason Bergmann (elbow inflammation) will pitch for AAA Columbus at Ottawa, and right-hander Jerome Williams (sore right shoulder) will throw for AA Harrisburg against Binghamton.

There still is no timetable for their returns, but Patterson -- on the disabled list with a nerve problem that has resulted in elbow and biceps soreness -- believes he needs three rehabilitation starts before he comes back to the big leagues. Patterson will rejoin the Nationals today in Baltimore to throw a side session. . . .

Left-hander Mike O'Connor, who had minor surgery on his elbow in the offseason, made the most significant step in his recovery Sunday when he pitched three innings for Harrisburg. He allowed two hits and one run, a solo homer, with one walk and three strikeouts, needing 47 pitches.

The Nationals promoted their three best players at low-A Hagerstown to Potomac in the more competitive Carolina League. The entire Suns outfield of Chris Marrero, Justin Maxwell and Mike Daniel -- along with first baseman Brett McMillan -- will join the P-Nats.

The 18-year-old Marrero is fast developing into the Nationals' top prospect. He is hitting .289 with 13 homers, 14 doubles, a .532 slugging percentage and 52 RBI in 56 games. He was named a South Atlantic League all-star.

Maxwell, a University of Maryland product, was the South Atlantic League player of the month for May. He is hitting .300 with 14 homers, 12 doubles, a .580 slugging percentage and 40 RBI in 55 games.

Daniel is hitting .297 with 15 doubles and 37 RBI, and is also a league all-star. McMillan is hitting .271 with 12 doubles and 21 RBI. . . .

The Nationals came to terms with 17 draft picks from last week, most significantly second-round choice Jake Smolinski, an infielder from Boylan Catholic High in Rockford, Ill. Negotiations with first-round pick Ross Detwiler, a lefty from Missouri State, have not begun.