There have been so many names splattered on the Nationals’ Disabled List this young season that it looks like a Jackson Pollock painting.  Wilson Ramos, Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Mattheus, Bryce Harper, Christian Garcia, Ross Detwiler, Stephen Strasburg (maybe) and now Danny Espinosa all have spent time off in 2013 with injuries.

To deal with the loss of these key players, the Nats have had to call up Anthony Rendon, Jeff Kobernus, Erik Davis, Jhonatan Solano, Fernando Abad, and Nathan Karns to replace the injured guys on the ballclub.

Yesterday, Tuesday, June 4th, was the “call up and send down” day for the Nats. GM Mike Rizzo called up LHP Ian Krol from AA Harrisburg, and INF Anthony Rendon, who was just moved up to the AAA Syracuse team last week to learn second base. At the same time, the Nats put their starting second baseman, Danny Espinosa, on the 15-Day DL for his broken wrist. On April 14, Espinosa got hit in the wrist by a pitch from Paul Maholm. He stayed in the game, but what Davey Johnson and trainer Landon Brandes didn’t know is that Espi had a broken wrist. He spent time off, came back in Game #1 in Baltimore, and probably will get surgery on his wrist.  Danny had been playing his usual great defense, but his hitting was off because he was injured in his wrist and his shoulder is not 100%. 

The Nats also made some cuts.  They designated LHP Zach Duke and RHP Henry Rodriguez for assignment.  At the same time, the activated RF Jayson Werth from the disabled list.  The cuts were needed in the bullpen, which has struggled.  But it’s a sad day for the players and fans when people are cut from the team.  Zach Duke and Henry Rodriguez were struggling out of the bullpen. Zach Duke actually started a game in 2013, but the Giants crushed him 8-0. On April 28 Henry Rodriguez did the 2 things a pitcher hates to do- walk the bases loaded and almost get hit in the back of the head on a wild pitch that ricocheted off the wall at him like John Wilkes Booth did when he assassinated Lincoln. 

With the designation of Duke, Krol is most likely to pitch out of the Washington ‘pen. Krol is a lefty who has done well this season in Harrisburg.  Krol came to Washington as a Player to Be Named Later from Oakland to complete the Michael Morse trade (Morse was traded to Oakland for the PTBNL, and then Oakland traded Morse to Seattle).  Krol did not make an appearance in Tuesday’s 3-2 win over New York, but with Dan Haren getting the Nats’ start today, a righty, Krol will be a candidate to pitch. Krol was drafted by the A’s in the 7th round of the 2009 June Amateur Draft.

And now, Anthony Rendon comes back to DC after replacing the once-injured Ryan Zimmerman at third in April. Rendon hit .240 with 1 RBI, 6 hits, 5 of them singles, 1 double, no homers, a .647 OPS, a .280 SLG, and a .367 OBP. Rendon’s first hit was on April 22 of STL pitcher Shelby Miller. It looks like he’s a candidate to play second, but Steve Lombardozzi has been doing a fine job there too and had some big hits in recent games.  Lombo got the walk-off SAC fly last night.

The Nats activated their veteran outfielder, Jayson Werth, who has played 1,034 games for Toronto, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington. Werth mobbed Steve Lombardozzi last night after Lombo’s walk off.  That walk off was great for Nats fans.  There hadn’t been one yet this year.  The last Nats walk-off was when Werth was getting mobbed himself in the NLDS Game 4 on 10/10/12.

NEXT NATS GAME:

NATIONALS VS. METS 

DILLON GEE (3-6, 5.68 ERA) VS. DAN HAREN (4-6, 5.09 ERA)

ROOKIES OF THE DAY (Rookies from around the league doing big things)

NL: DODGERS OF YASIEL PUIG (Hit his first 2 major league home runs to beat the Padres 9-7).

AL: RED SOX OF JACKIE BRADLEY, JR (Hit his first major league home run to beat the Rangers 17-5)

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