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Taylor Jordan makes his case to be No. 5 starter for Nats

By George Wallace

VIERA, Fla. — There weren’t many big questions and open competitions for positions coming into spring training for the Nationals.

One of the biggest competitions has been for the fifth starter spot in the rotation. Many believed that Ross Detwiler had the inside track to it, but when Manager Matt Williams announced that Detwiler would start the year in the bullpen, it became clear that the battle was between Tanner Roark and Taylor Jordan.

After allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts against the Mets on Sunday, it was Taylor Jordan’s turn Monday to make his final case.

He certainly didn’t disappoint, going five and two-thirds innings allowing one run on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts against the Marlins.

“He was really good,” Williams said. “Of course, he made a case, he’s pitched well the whole spring for us. It’s going to be a very difficult decision, they’re both pitching really well and it’s a good thing.”

Now the waiting game begins and for Taylor Jordan.

“I’m not really confident in anything, I’m just going to play it by ear. I’m happy to go to Triple-A, it’s still a bump up for me. I’ve never even been to Triple-A. Last year was just a blessing to be up in the big leagues. I don’t expect anything.”

Jordan has bounced back after breaking his ankle in the off season and has thrown 20 and two-thirds innings, allowing nine runs on 24 hits with two walks and 20 strikeouts this spring. He did get off to a slow start, but things changed quickly.

“I just stopped worrying about it,” he said. “I was really nervous on the mound my first couple games. My nerves have gone away now, I don’t really think about it anymore.”

As far as his competition, Roark has had a great spring as well. He’s thrown 13.2 innings allowing five runs on 11 hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts. He also threw five scoreless innings in a minor league game this spring. Who would you choose?

It’s going to be a tough decision for Matt Williams and company.

“It is because they’ve both have pitched really well, what are you gonna do? They’ve answered the bell every time we’ve asked them too, it’s been great.”

As far as a deadline to make a decision: “No deadline as of right now, but we’ll certainly spend a lot of time the next couple days. It’s a great difficult decision to have.”

There has been a lot of talk about the Nationals first four in the rotation and how good they can be, but when you look at the spring that the guys battling for that fifth spot have had, it’s tough not to include them in the conversation as well.

Strasburg’s Final Tuneup

The Nats will face the Mets on Tuesday at Space Coast Stadium, their final home game of the spring, and it will be the final dress rehearsal for opening day starter Stephen Strasburg. Look for him to throw at least six innings as he gets ready to face the Mets next Monday in New York for the opener.

Williams did say that, in all likelihood, whoever wins the fifth spot in the rotation will start the Nats home opener against the Braves on April 4.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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