Nationals officially recall Joe Ross for tonight's start; Wilmer Difo optioned

By Josh Land

Nationals

July 21, 2015, 11:15am

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The Nationals officially recalled rookie right-hander Joe Ross from Triple-A Syracuse to make tonight's start against the Mets. This will be Ross' second stint with the Nationals this season after impressing with a 2-1 record and 2.66 ERA in three starts in June.

Ross struck out 23 and walked only two across 20 1/3 innings after debuting in the majors on June 6.

The former 2011 first-rounder figures to remain in the rotation until Stephen Strasburg (left oblique strain) comes off the 15-day disabled list.

In his last start on June 19, Ross fanned 11 Pirates while holding them to one run on six hits with only one walk over 7 1/3 innings as the Nationals won 4-1. He joined John Lannan (2008) and Strasburg (2010) as the only Nationals rookies to strike out at least 10 batters in a game.

When Strasburg returned from his first trip to the DL, Ross was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse where he went 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA in five starts.

Tonight, Ross will face Mets ace Jacob DeGrom, the Nationals League's Rookie of the Year last season.

To make room on the roster, the Nationals optioned infielder Wilmer Difo to Double-A Harrisburg. Difo has bounced back and forth from D.C. to Harrisburg since making his major league debut on May 19. The 22-year-old has appeared only as a pinch-hitter this season, going 1-for-8. Difo is batting .286 in 44 games at Harrisburg.