WASHINGTION -- With the Nationals wanting Shawn Hill to rest his ailing right elbow, left-hander Matt Chico will to take his friend's start against the Phillies on Wednesday night at Nationals Park.

Chico started the season as a starter, but he was demoted to the bullpen after four consecutive bad outings. The major reason for the bad starts was because Chico was pressing on the mound. However, it has been a different story out of the bullpen. He has given up just one run in 6 1/3 innings.

"It's good to get back out there where I want to be," Chico said. "Ultimately, I want to pitch, whenever I'm throwing, that's fine. ... Being in the bullpen has helped me calm down and get back to where I want to be."

Hill last pitched on Friday against the Orioles and he acknowledged the next day he was pitching with elbow discomfort. Hill had a cortisone shot and fluid taken out of the elbow on Saturday morning.

The pain is located behind the elbow and isn't in the area where he had elbow reconstruction surgery in 2004.

Hill is still feeling sore from the shot, but he hopes to play catch on Tuesday.