The Nationals put righthanded pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the list with a 10-day injury, retroactive to Thursday, with an inflammation of the right shoulder. Washington chose righthanded pitcher Paolo Espino’s contract and recalled righthanded pitcher Ryne Harper from the Alternate Training Site (Fredericksburg), with Espino scheduled to start in place of Strasburg in Sunday’s game against the D-backs.
Right-handed Wander Suero (left oblique trunk) was also placed on the 10-day IL. The 34-year-old Espino starts on Sunday for Washington against Arizona. It marks his fourth career in the Major League and second as a member of the Nationals. He started on September 22, 2020 vs. Philadelphia and gave up three earned runs on seven hits in four innings. He followed that up with two innings of one-hit, scoreless relief on September 27 vs. the Mets.
Harper, 32, did not appear in a game with the Nationals during his first stint in 2021.
Strasburg, 32, is 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA in two starts this season.
Suero, 29, played in eight games out of Washington’s bullpen, pitching against a 1.42 ERA (1 ER / 6.1 IP).