Nationals recall left-hander Matt Grace, place right-hander Joe Blanton on DL

By Bobby Blanco

Nationals

May 17, 2017, 12:22pm

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The Washington Nationals recalled left-handed pitcher Matt Grace from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday and placed right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Grace, 28, joins the Nationals for his fourth Major League assignment of the season, working to a 6.23 ERA in three appearances (4.1 IP). The left-hander has a 4.07 ERA in 34 career Major League games, including five appearances last season over which he allowed just one hit and did not give up a run.

A former eighth-round draft selection in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of UCLA, Grace has posted a 62.2 percent ground-ball rate in his Major League career. Relying on a heavy fastball/slider repertoire, Grace has never allowed a Major League home run, and has allowed just six in the Minor Leagues since his conversion to relief in 2013.

Blanton, 36, is 0-2 with a 9.49 ERA in 14 appearances out of the Nationals' bullpen (12.1 IP). The veteran right-hander was 7-2 with a 2.48 ERA in a career-high 75 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016.