Nationals place left-hander Gio Gonzalez on DL, recall right-hander Ryan Mattheus

By Josh Land

Nationals

May 18, 2014, 6:47am

Comments

The Washington Nationals today placed left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez on the 15-Day Disabled List with left shoulder inflammation and recalled right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Gonzalez, 28, is 3-4 with a 4.62 ERA (26 ER/50.2 IP) in nine starts for Washington after taking the loss in Sat.'s 5-2 home setback against the Mets. Since joining the Nationals in 2012, Gonzalez is tied with the Angels C.J. Wilson for the MLB lead among left-handed pitchers with 35 wins. The DL stint is the first of Gonzalez's big league career. Mattheus returns for a second stint with the Nationals this season. In two appearances from April 29 - May 5, Mattheus spun 3.0 scoreless innings, scattering 3 singles and a walk, while fanning one. The 30 year-old Mattheus is 7-7 with 32 holds and just three blown saves in 140 career appearances spanning portions of four seasons (2011-14) with the Nationals. In 13 appearances with Syracuse this season, Mattheus has two saves (April 16 vs. Lehigh Valley, April 6 vs. Scranton/W-B) and a 5.93 ERA. He has walked four and struck out 11.