By The Washington Nationals announced the following roster moves on Tuesday.
· Selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Carl Edwards Jr.
· Optioned right-handed pitcher Andres Machado to Triple-A Rochester
· Transferred right-handed pitcher Mason Thompson to the 60-day Injured List
Edwards Jr., 30, joins the Nationals after going 1–0 with three saves and 0.63 ERA (1 ER/14.1 1 IP) in 13 games for Triple-A Rochester. He struck out 17 batters, walked four and held opposing batters to an .068 average (3-for-44). Edwards Jr. allowed his only earned run on April 8 at Toledo (CLE) and went on to toss 11.2 innings of scoreless relief — with just one hit allowed — in his next 11 appearances. He did not allow a base runner in four appearances prior to having his contract selected.
A veteran of seven Major League seasons, Edwards Jr. has pitched to a 3.77 ERA and 12.0 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 206 Major League outings. Since 2015, he ranks third among relievers with a .166 opponents’ batting average. Only Josh Hader (.138) and Craig Kimbrel (.164) have held opponents to a lower average in that span.
Machado, 29, appeared in 10 games out of Washington’s bullpen. He posted a 2.45 ERA (3 ER/11.0 IP) with eight strikeouts and five walks.
