Velasquez allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks across five innings in a no-decision Sunday against the Nationals. He struck out five.
Velasquez was solid through the early portion of the game, allowing just one unearned run -- the result of an error and a wild pitch -- before the fifth inning. He labored in that frame, however, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk, and was removed after its completion due to an elevated pitch count. Velasquez was in the strike zone at a 65 percent clip despite walking three, but the inefficiency prevented him from making it into the sixth inning for the fourth time in seven starts. He will carry a 5.63 ERA into Saturday's start against the Pirates.