The Washington Nationals acquired left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski from the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations and infielder Max Schrock on Thursday to help a flailing bullpen.
“I think it was a necessary move because we only got one left-hander [on the team],” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said.
Rzepczynski has a 3.00 ERA this season, but also reverse splits. Though his career splits show a .225 batting average against versus left-handed hitters and .276 versus right-handed hitters. This season, those numbers are close to reversed: right-handers are hitting .226 against him and left-handers .296.
His problem this season has been walking people. Rzepczynski is averaging a career high six walks per nine innings.
The 30-year-old reliever was trying to reach Nationals Park in time for Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, but the Nationals were not sure if he would arrive before the first pitch. Starter Reynaldo Lopez was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Rzepczynski.
The Nationals needed more left-handed pitching in the bullpen following a dramatic shift among that group which was successful earlier in the season. Felipe Rivero was sent to Pittsburgh as part of the trade to acquire closer Mark Melancon. Sammy Solis, the Nationals’ most effective left-handed reliever, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 17 because of shoulder inflammation. Veteran Oliver Perez has been knocked around in August. His ERA for the month is 15.43. For the season, his ERA has grown to 5.71.
Rzepczynski, a groundball pitcher, has a 4.22 ERA in 10 2/3 postseason innings.
Schrock is a 21-year-old shortstop who hit .333 this season with two teams at the single-A level. He was selected in the 13th round of the 2015 draft.
Ross, Strasburg progress
Right-handed starter Joe Ross threw a bullpen session on Thursday that Baker said went well. Ross was placed on the disabled list July 3 because of shoulder inflammation. Baker said Ross is close to being ready for a rehabilitation assignment.
The calendar is working against Ross returning to the starting rotation, where he had a 3.49 ERA in 16 starts this season. The Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs finishes their season Sept. 5, as do the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. That leaves Ross a small window to make multiple starts and be ready to re-enter the rotation. He could first return to the Nationals in the bullpen, then progressively increase his workload before moving back into the rotation. The Nationals have tried multiple young pitchers in his place, none of which have been consistently effective.
While Ross threw his pitches in the bullpen, Stephen Strasburg (right elbow soreness) played catch in the outfield. It was a casual day of throwing the ball for Strasburg, who was previously shut down from any pitching activity when placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday. The Nationals stressed at the time that moving Strasburg to the disabled list was precautionary.
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