Nationals recall DJ Herz

The Washington Nationals recalled left-handed pitcher DJ Herz from Triple-A Rochester and optioned right-handed pitcher Eduardo Salazar to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Herz will start tonight against the San Diego Padres.

Herz, 23, returns to Washington for his second Major League stint this season. He struck out 41 in 31.1 innings over his first seven career starts from June 4 to July 7. He struck out 13 hitters in 6.0 innings in his first MLB win against Miami on June 15 and fanned 10 in 5.2 innings against the New York Mets on July 2. In all, Herz has gone 1-3 with a 5.17 ERA for the Nationals this year.

Herz was 3-3 with a 3.89 ERA, 44 strikeouts and a .176 opponents’ batting average in 10 starts for the Red Wings this season. Over his last five starts, he went 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA (7 ER/21.1 IP), 27 strikeouts and a .151 average against. In his last start before being recalled, Herz pitched 3.1 innings, struck out two and allowed two runs on two hits on July 14.

Herz leads all of Minor League Baseball with a .176 opponents’ batting average and is third with 13.01 strikeouts per 9.0 innings since the start of the 2021 season (min. 250.0 IP). In parts of five Minor League seasons, Herz is 13-17 with a 3.67 ERA with 457 strikeouts in 321.0 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .178 batting average. 

Salazar, 26, pitched in two games for Washington. He worked 4.0 innings, struck out seven and allowed one unearned run on three hits.