Wang heading to DL, Rodriguez activated

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

July 03, 2012, 2:12pm

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The Nationals have placed struggling right-hander Chien-Ming Wang on the 15-day disabled list with a right hip strain and reinstated reliever Henry Rodriguez from the DL. Wang's DL stint is retroactive to July 1. This is his second time on the disabled list this season; he missed the first 42 games of the season due to a strained left hamstring which he suffered in spring training. Manager Davey Johnson said today that Wang's personal trainer thought there was an issue with the veteran righty's hip which was throwing his mechanics out of whack. Johnson made sure to mention that the trainer isn't a doctor, but apparently the team has concurred with the trainer's thinking. The timing is convenient in that it allows Wang some time to get healthy and work his mechanical issues out on a rehab assignment before returning to the big leagues. Wang had allowed 13 runs and 19 hits over his last four appearances with the Nationals, spanning 11 1/3 innings. Rodriguez, meanwhile, was placed on the DL with a strained right index finger back on June 7. He had seven scoreless (and hitless) rehab appearances between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. He was 1-3 with a 5.14 ERA and nine saves in 12 chances with the Nationals before going on the DL.