Nationals recall Tanner Rainey

By Doug Miller

Nationals

May 18, 2019, 12:41pm

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The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Tanner Rainey from Triple-A Fresno and placed right-handed pitcher Justin Miller on the 10-day Injured List with a right rotator cuff strain on Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Rainey, 26, joins the Nationals for his first Major League assignment of 2019. In his last seven appearances (7.2 IP) out of Fresno's bullpen, Rainey did not allow an earned run while striking out 18 batters and issued just one walk along the way. Opposing batters went 4-for-27 (.148) against him during that stretch.

On the season, Rainey went 2-2 with two saves and a 4.00 ERA in 16 outings for the Grizzlies. He struck out 32 batters in 18.0 innings pitched (16.0 SO/9.0 IP) and allowed just one home run. He pitched more than one inning in six of the 16 outings, and tossed 2.0 innings on two separate occasions.

Acquired by the Nationals from Cincinnati in exchange for Tanner Roark on Dec. 12, 2018, Rainey ranks ninth in all of Minor League Baseball with 11.38 strikeouts per 9.0 innings since the start of the 2015 season (min. 275.0 IP).

Rainey appeared in eight games for the Reds in 2018, making his Major League debut on April 10 at Philadelphia.

Miller, 31, is 1-0 with four holds and a 4.02 ERA in 17 games out of Washington's bullpen in 2019.