Lopez to debut Tuesday, Solis to DL, Giolito starts Tuesday for Syracuse

Manager Dusty Baker announced after Sunday's 18-inning loss to the Pirates that pitching prospect Reynaldo Lopez will be have his contract selected from Triple-A Syracuse to make his major league debut Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Baseball America had Lopez ranked as the No. 5 Nats prospect heading into 2016.

Baker said the move allows right-hander Lucas Giolito to work on some of his pitches with a start Tuesday night when Triple-A Syracuse welcomes Gwinnett. Giolito went 0-0 with a 4.70 ERA in two starts for the Nationals, pitching 7 2/3 innings over two games.

The Nationals will place left-hander Sammy Solis on the 15-day disabled list with a knee injury.

"Giolito needs some work, especially with his breaking ball and his location," Baker said. "So we call up a power arm. We're going to put Sammy Solis on the DL because his knee is cranky right now."

Solis has not appeared in a game since 10 days ago against the Mets. He pitched 1/3 of an inning, allowing one run on three hits with three walks. Baker said the Nationals can place Solis on the DL retroactive to July 7. Solis is 1-3 with five holds and a 2.43 ERA, and has had a strong start to the season before this injury setback.

"We can backdate it and it won't be the full two weeks with the off-days and the All-Star break and everything we else that we had," Baker said. "We just thought that that was the move right now."

Baker confirmed it is Solis' right knee that is injured.

"They're going to take an MRI of it," Baker said. "It's on his landing leg. And when it's on your landing leg, it's even worse. We hope that he will be all right."

The move also provides the Nationals several options depending on how Joe Ross is recovering form the right shoulder inflammation that landed him on the disabled list on July 3, how well Giolito pitches and how well Lopez does in his debut. When the rotation spot comes up again, the Nats might have the luxury of choosing from anyone of these three pitchers.

"(Giolito) is pitching on the same day as Lopez is pitching, which is by design," Baker said. "And if things don't work out and if Joe Ross isn't ready, then we can go back to Giolito after he gets some work."

The Nationals still need to make a move to clear a roster spot for Lopez to be placed on the 40-man roster.

Giolito previously told me he was impressed with how well Lopez had improved with each start this season.

"I've come up with Reynaldo over the past couple of years and to see the success he is having, it's great," Giolito said. "He's such a good guy and he's working really hard. I know he is. He was on a really hot run there in (Double-A) Harrisburg, striking out a lot of guys, missing bats. I'd say that he has taken a huge step in becoming a pitcher, landing his curveball and changeup for a strike, commanding a fastball in and out, up and down."

In Lopez's last 10 games in the minors, he has gone 4-2 with a 2.41 ERA. Over the past 56 innings, Lopez has struck out 78 batters and walked only 17. He is 4-5 with a 3.19 ERA in 16 starts this season, posting 109 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings.