For Starters, O'Connor In, Chico Out

HOUSTON, May 7 -- After seven largely unsuccessful starts, the Washington Nationals moved struggling left-hander Matt Chico to the bullpen Wednesday, replacing him with lefty Mike O'Connor in a move the club hopes will remedy the rotation's largest problem and allow Chico to grow more comfortable.

"We just want to release Matt from some of that tension that he's having every five days going out there," Manager Manny Acta said. "We want to give O'Connor a shot. He pitched very well in Triple-A."

Chico, 24, has not made a relief appearance since his second professional season, 2004. But he is 0-5 with a 6.87 ERA this season and is the only member of a surprisingly dependable Washington rotation who is under-performing. He also admitted to pressing, a problem he hopes will subside in the bullpen.

"When I was starting, I was trying to do too much," Chico said. "I was trying to throw five wins in one game."

O'Connor, 27, made 21 appearances, 20 of them starts, for the Nationals in 2006, going 3-8 with a 4.80 ERA. After elbow surgery at the end of that season and a poor 2007 at Class AA Harrisburg, the George Washington University alumnus regained his form this spring. A soft-tosser who relies on his curveball and change-up, he added a slider that he believes makes him a better pitcher now than he was in 2006.

O'Connor pitched the sixth inning of Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Houston Astros, making him 1-0 with a 6.35 ERA in four relief appearances for Washington, but he admitted he wasn't entirely comfortable with the role. "I'm not saying I can't relieve," he said. "It's just the last couple years I've gotten used to the routines of starting."

Acta said the move is not a tryout, and that O'Connor will be given more than one start. The club is also monitoring the progress of right-hander Jason Bergmann, who didn't allow an earned run in his last two starts for Class AAA Columbus.

O'Connor's first start will come Saturday against Florida.

Lo Duca Leaves With Hurt Hand

Catcher Paul Lo Duca left Wednesday's game in the seventh inning after fouling off an 0-1 pitch from Houston starter Roy Oswalt. Lo Duca felt sharp pain in his right hand, for which he spent time on the disabled list, and will have an MRI exam Thursday. As he was heading into the dugout, Lo Duca jawed with fans in the front row. Three men were identified by the Nationals' bench and ejected by security.

"The guy was being obnoxious the whole night," Lo Duca said. "I just kept my mouth shut and didn't say anything. And then I was coming off the field, and he told me I was a [wimp]. I said, 'If I'm a [wimp], come outside and wait for me then, if you've got an issue with me.' And he turned red as a freakin' ketchup bottle."