The injuries keep piling up for the Washington Nationals. Before the Nats begin their second half schedule tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team announced that right-handed reliever David Carpenter was going on the 15-day disabled list due to shoulder inflammation. The move was retroactive to last Sunday, July 12. Left-handed reliever Sammy Solis, who has gone back and forth between the Nats and double-A Harrisburg this season, was called up to replace Carpenter:
The #Nats have recalled LHP Sammy Solis from Harrisburg and placed RHP David Carpenter on the 15-day DL with right shoulder inflammation.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 17, 2015
Carpenter, who has pitched well for the Nats since being traded from the New York Yankees on June 11 for minor league second baseman Tony Renda, has not thrown a pitch for the Nationals since July 5 against the San Francisco Giants. He has a 1.50 ERA in his last eight appearances and has given up one earned run over the last six innings.
The former Braves setup man seemed to have find his confidence in the Nation’s Capital after having a 4.82 ERA in 22 appearances with the Yankees. With Carpenter getting the job done in the late innings, the Nats bullpen has gone back near the top of the National League in ERA. Heading into tonight’s game, the ‘pen has a 3.31 ERA, which is sixth in the NL and tenth in all of baseball.
Even before the injury, Carpenter was away from the team during last week’s home series against the Reds because of paternity leave. For now, Casey Janssen becomes the primary setup man, a role he was used in twice during the Orioles’ series last weekend at Camden Yards. Carpenter was warming up in the bullpen during Saturday’s 7-4 win, but felt something in his shoulder, which caused Matt Williams to go to Janssen in the eighth.
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To replace Carpenter, the Nats called up Solis. The 26-year-old left-hander made his last appearance with the team on July 7 against the Reds, when threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning. In six appearances in the Major Leagues this season, Solis is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA. In four of his six outings this season, he has not given up an earned run.
In the minors this season, Solis is 0-3 with a 6.75 in 11 games. Solis went back down to Harrisburg when Carpenter’s paternity leave was over, but he did not pitch a game with the Senators. He is now the third left-handed option for the Nats along with Felipe Rivero and Matt Thornton.