Nats recall Ryan Mattheus, option Taylor Jordan to Triple-A

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

April 29, 2014, 10:08am

Comments

HOUSTON - The Nationals announced this afternoon that they've recalled right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus from Triple-A and optioned right-hander Taylor Jordan to Syracuse. The move almost certainly means that the Nats will go with a four-man rotation for now, skipping what would have been Jordan's turn on Sunday against the Phillies, and they will have an eight-man bullpen with the addition of Mattheus. Off-days in the schedule yesterday and Thursday will allow the Nats to skip Jordan's turn and go with a four-man rotation for the time being. Jordan went 0-3 with a 5.61 ERA in five starts spanning 25 2/3 innings. His velocity dipped in recent outings, and while the righty was hitting 94-95 mph on the radar gun last season (with an average of 92 mph), his fastball averaged just 89.1 mph this season, according to Fangraphs. Mattheus was a key contributor to the Nats' bullpen in 2012. He had a tough 2013 season, which included a stint on the DL after he broke his right hand punching a locker, and was limited this spring by a chest injury. The righty pitched to a 5.40 ERA in 10 innings at Syracuse this season.