Solis diagnosed with shoulder inflammation (Nationals win 7-6)

ATLANTA - Tests on injured reliever Sammy Solis revealed inflammation in the left-hander's shoulder, the same as the Nationals' initial diagnosis earlier this week when Solis was placed on the disabled list.

There is no definitive timetable for Solis' return, but he should be cleared to resume throwing after a brief period of rest, and the Nationals remain hopeful he'll be part of their bullpen for the stretch run.

"He has inflammation in his shoulder, which we're not shocked about," manager Dusty Baker said. "They're just going to treat him accordingly and try to get the inflammation out of there before he can start resuming baseball activities."

This is the second time Solis has been on the DL this summer with shoulder inflammation, and there remains some concern about the rookie's ability to handle a heavy workload in September and potentially October.

With that in mind, the Nationals reacquired veteran Sean Burnett today, sending cash considerations to the Twins in return. Burnett, who was a key piece of the Nats' bullpen from 2009-12 but has barely pitched in the majors since due to injuries, has reported to Triple-A Syracuse. He may not be there long.

The Nationals could promote the 33-year-old to the big leagues quickly if he continues at Syracuse what he did for three other clubs' Triple-A affiliates this season (a 1.91 ERA and 1.063 WHIP in 42 games), not to mention his scoreless work this spring in Nats camp.

"In spring training, he looked good," Baker said. "Again, that's spring training. But all I can go on is how he looked against us from the other side of the field. And I know this guy was one of the best while he was here. He gave us the blues. We didn't get any hits off him. All he did was get double plays against us. So I hope he's similar to before."

With Solis on the DL and Felipe Rivero traded to the Pirates for Mark Melancon, the Nationals have only one lefty in their bullpen now: Oliver Perez, who has struggled. Burnett could help solidify that situation.

"Hoping that he's close to being the same guy that he was before, because we certainly can't go with this one left-hander in the bullpen," Baker said. "Or I'd rather not have just one left-hander in the bullpen until we get Solis back."

One other potential September option for the Nationals, Bryan Harper, appears no longer to be an option. The 26-year-old older brother of reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper has a 2.18 ERA in 40 games at Double-A and Triple-A this season but he hasn't pitched in two weeks due to a strained forearm. Two sources familiar with Harper's situation said he has been shut down and likely won't return to pitch this season.

Update: We're through four innings here at Turner Field, and the Nationals lead 1-0 thanks to a manufactured run in the top of the first and an absolutely remarkable catch by Ben Revere in the bottom of the fourth. Trea Turner led off the game with a double, took third on Revere's sacrifice bunt and scored on Bryce Harper's RBI groundout. Tanner Roark has faced the minimum through four innings, even though he has put two men on base (one via walk, one via hit). Roark and Wilson Ramos teamed up to throw out both runners trying to steal second. But the defensive play of the game (maybe the season) came from Revere, who stone-cold robbed Freddie Freeman of a homer with a full-speed, leap-at-the-wall, reach-over-to-catch-the-ball, then-slam-into-the-fence play. It really was something. Even the Turner Field crowd applauded Revere as he returned to the dugout.

Update II: All of a sudden, it's 5-0 Nats in the sixth thanks to a bunch of singles (including RBI hits by Revere and Harper), three walks and Dansby Swanson's throwing error. The Nats have gotten into the Atlanta bullpen, and that's a very advantageous matchup. Roark, meanwhile, has remarkably still faced the minimum through five innings, helped out by three double plays.

Update III: The shutout is over. Roark issued a two-out walk to Jace Peterson in the bottom of the sixth, and that came back to bite him. Ender Inciarte followed with a two-run homer, trimming the Nats' lead to 5-2.

Update IV: Roark faded late tonight, giving up another homer to Nick Markakis in the seventh before getting pulled. But the Nats responded with an insurance run in the top of the eighth, extending their lead to 6-3. They also ensured at least one more plate appearance for Jayson Werth, who needs to reach base to extend his streak to a franchise-record 47 games.

Update V: Well, things here have taken a dramatic turn. For the worse, if you're the Nationals. The Braves scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth, thanks in large part to erros by both Danny Espinosa and Anthony Rendon. Neither was an easy play, but each was a play we've come to expect those guys to make. Koda Glover was put into a huge spot, facing Freeman with the tying runners on base, and got burned on a first-pitch fastball that was roped to left-center for a two-run double. Glover got out of it without any more damage, but it's now a 6-6 game going to the ninth.

Update VI: All's well that ends well. Clint Robinson delivered a two-out RBI single to left in the top of the ninth, and Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to secure a 7-6 victory for the Nationals. Glover wound up earning his first MLB win in the process.