Nationals fire pitching coach due to 'preparation issues'

The Washington Nationals fired pitching coach Derek Lilliquist on Thursday, the team announced.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo cited "preparation issues" as part of the reason for the change and said the team wanted a new voice, according to Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic. Minor-league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart was named the replacement.

"We felt that both the rotation and the bullpen, we thought that we had some flaws in there," Rizzo said, according to Byron Kerr of MASN. "We thought there was preparation issues there and we thought that we wanted to get a new message, a new voice.

"We felt really good about Paul's delivery, the way he feels about this organization, and his knowledge of both personally and professionally and mechanically of almost each and every one of our pitchers at the big leagues."

Rizzo stressed the decision was made with manager Dave Martinez, and that the team believes Menhart will add a more "hands-on, analytical" approach, Ghiroli reports.

Following the change, he endorsed Martinez as the club's manager.

"I think Davey's doing a great job ... he's got his finger on the pulse of that clubhouse, I think he's got a finger on the pulse of that team and the players respect him and play hard for him,” Rizzo said, according to Jamal Collier of MLB.com.

Nationals ace Max Scherzer is now on his fourth pitching coach in five seasons with the team following the move, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN.

Washington's pitchers rank 23rd in ERA (4.82) and 19th in WHIP (1.36). The Nationals (13-17) currently sit in fourth place in the competitive NL East.