Washington Nationals pitcher Doug Fister had skin cancer removed

By Phil Watson | Aug 23, 2014

Aug 22, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Doug Fister (58) prepares to pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the fifth inning at Nationals Park. The Giants won 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Doug Fister lost Friday night’s start for the Washington Nationals, allowing four runs in six innings of a 10-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park, telling Nats Insider’s Matt Zuckerman after the game that he had skin cancer removed from the left side of his neck earlier this week.

He didn’t let that serve as an excuse for a sub-par outing.

"“The whole day, I was battling myself,” Fister said. “That’s a constant challenge for me, to constantly keep the ball down and on the corners. It’s something I have to do. If not, I have to pay for it. And that’s what happened.”"

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He said the row of stitches down the left side of his neck had “no effect” on his performance Friday night.

The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak for the Nationals, who have opened up a six-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and have a 1½-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the NL.

Fister has been a big part of that. Even after the loss Friday, Fister is 12-4 with a 2.38 ERA and 1.067 WHIP in 19 starts. Prior to Friday night, Fister hadn’t given up more than three runs in a start since June 15.

In those 10 starts between those outings, Fister was 7-1 with a 1.57 ERA and 1.029 WHIP and worked at least seven innings in eight of the 10 games.

Fister was acquired by Washington last December in a trade that sent left-handers Ian Krol and Robbie Ray and utility man Steve Lombardozzi to the Detroit Tigers.