Nats add six to roster, including Robles, Ross, McGowin

The Nationals added six players to their September roster today, promoting outfielder Victor Robles, infielder Adrian Sanchez, and right-handers Austin Voth and Kyle McGowin from Triple-A Syracuse, while also activating Erick Fedde and Joe Ross off the 60-day disabled list.

With the minor league regular season wrapping up Monday, the Nationals had no more reason to wait to expand their roster. They now have 32 active players, including catcher Pedro Severino and reliever Austen Williams, who were called up Saturday.

Robles is the most significant name among today's promotions, the organization's top-rated prospect when the season began finally making his 2019 debut in Washington after an injury-plagued year in the minors. The 21-year-old outfielder, who burst onto the scene last September and made the Nationals' postseason roster, missed three months with a left elbow injury this season. He wound up hitting .276 with two homers, 14 RBIs, a .371 on-base percentage and 19 stolen bases in 52 minor league games this year.

Manager Davey Martinez said Monday he intends to give Robles playing time over the season's last month, which means more days off for Juan Soto, Bryce Harper and Adam Eaton, and fewer opportunities for Michael A. Taylor in the outfield.

Fedde and Ross both are returning from injury, with Fedde having spent exactly 60 days on the DL with shoulder inflammation. He's scheduled to start tonight's game against the Cardinals. Ross makes his return to the active roster more than 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery. The club hasn't revealed precise plans for the right-hander to pitch the rest of the way, but he is expected to get opportunities both to start and relieve.

McGowin will be making his major league debut after a breakthrough season at Syracuse. The 26-year-old right-hander, acquired from the Angels in December 2016 for Danny Espinosa, was a combined 8-6 with a 2.99 ERA in 23 starts for Syracuse, Double-A Harrisburg and Single-A Potomac.

Sanchez, who has played 49 games for the Nationals over the last two seasons, and Voth, who made his major league debut earlier this summer in a spot start against the Mets, both return to the big league roster for the remainder of the season.

Needing to clear one spot on their 40-man roster, the Nationals activated Tommy Milone off the DL but then sent him outright to Syracuse, effectively ending the left-hander's season.