Nationals select the contract of Paolo Espino and recall Ryne Harper

By Doug Miller

Nationals

April 18, 2021, 7:40am

Comments

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Paolo Espino and recalled right-handed pitcher Ryne Harper from the Alternate Training Site (Fredericksburg) on Sunday. Additionally, the Nationals placed right-handed pitchers Stephen Strasburg (right shoulder inflammation; retroactive to 4/15) and Wander Suero (left oblique strain) on the 10-day Injured List. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Espino, 34, will start for Washington on Sunday against the Diamondbacks. It will mark his fourth career Major League start and second as a member of the Washington Nationals. He started on September 22, 2020 vs. Philadelphia, allowing three earned runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings of work. He followed that up with 2.0 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief on September 27, 2020 vs. New York (NL).

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, appeared in eight games out of Washington's bullpen, pitching to a 1.42 ERA (1 ER/6.1 IP).