Blanton goes on DL with shoulder inflammation, Grace recalled

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals hope a stint on the disabled list will do for Joe Blanton what pitching in big league games has not.

Blanton was placed on the 10-day DL today with right shoulder inflammation, an ailment the veteran reliever mentioned to club officials Tuesday and may have played at least some role in his ragged start to the season.

Blanton has a 9.49 ERA in 14 games, having surrendered 20 hits (six of those homers) in only 12 1/3 innings. He last appeared in a game Saturday but noted shoulder discomfort to pitching coach Mike Maddux after a bullpen session Tuesday afternoon, then again today during a session in the trainer's room.

"Get him right, because don't forget he came to spring training extremely late and started up extremely quickly and hasn't been right for a while," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "So we're finally going to shut him down, get him right so we can get the old Joe Blanton back."

The Nationals signed Blanton to a $4 million contract on March 2, believing they had themselves a bargain for the 36-year-old, who last season with the Dodgers had a 2.48 ERA in 75 appearances and became one of the league's best setup men.

The veteran hasn't been able to come close to replicating that success, though, giving up runs in six of his first nine appearances with the Nationals. His velocity hasn't changed much at all, but he is getting hit at career-worst rates.

Blanton will head back to Washington for tests on his shoulder and then is expected to be shut down for a period of time before he resumes a throwing program and attempts to return.

"You could tell he wasn't himself," manager Dusty Baker said. "We're going to send him back for some tests and try to get him right. We need him. We brought him here for the late innings. I didn't like not being able to use him, and he didn't like not being able to perform."

With Blanton shelved, the Nationals recalled left-hander Matt Grace from Triple-A Syracuse. Thus capped a wild week for Grace, who was optioned to Syracuse on Friday, recalled to Washington for Sunday's doubleheader, optioned back to Syracuse on Monday, threw 30 pitches for the Chiefs at Buffalo on Tuesday and then rejoined the Nats in Pittsburgh this afternoon.