The Nationals have placed reliever Jesus Colome on the 15-day disabled list with a right lower extremity soft tissue infection.  This will hurt the Nationals bullpen because Jesus Colome has been outstanding for them.  He has pitched in 40 games this season and he’s 4-0 with a 2.76 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.  In 45.2 innings, he has allowed 38 hits, walked 21 batters and whiffed 28.  The Nationals have activated starting pitcher Jason Bergmann replace Colome on the roster.  Bergmann was outstanding this season before he was injured and he will retain his spot in the rotation.  He has started 8 games this season and he’s 1-3 with a 2.76 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.  He has tossed 49 innings for the Nationals and he has only allowed 28 hits, walked 21 batters and whiffed 42.

The Nationals have placed Christian Guzman on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb.  This is a shame as Guzman was finally playing up to his ability for the Nationals.  He has played in 43 games this season and he’s 57 for 173 (.329 avg, .850 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 2 homers, 14 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  The Nationals will shift Felipe Lopez back to shortstop and put Ronnie Belliard back at 2B.  Belliard has really played well this season for the Nationals as he’s played in 62 games this season and he is 55 for 185 (.297 avg, .703 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 2 homers and 17 RBIs.

UPDATE:  Guzman will miss the remainder of the season after he had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.

The Nationals really liked Levale Speigner and they wanted to keep him so they traded Darnell McDonald to the Twins so that they could keep Speigner and send him to the minors.  The 28 year old outfielder was in AAA for the Nationals and he was hitting .315 with a .812 OPS in 73 games.  In those 73 games, McDonald scored 39 runs, hit 2 homers, drove in 41 runs and stole 14 bases.

The Washington Nationals have activated Luis Ayala from the DL and recalled reliever Chris Schroder and OF Brandon Watson from AAA ball.  Luis Ayala will work in middle relief until he builds his arm up enough to be the Nationals’ set up man.  Ayala missed all of last season due to an elbow injury he suffered in the LAME World Games.  His elbow required Tommy John surgery which the Nationals hope he is fully recovered from as he was a great set up man before the injury.  In 8 rehab games in the minors, Ayala was 0-0 with a 0.93 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP.  Ayala pitched 9.2 innings this season and he only allowed 5 hits, walked 3 batters and whiffed 6.  Chris Schroder has been awesome in the minors and the Nationals hope he can keep pitching like he is right now in the majors.  Schroder pitched in 26 games in AAA ball this season and he is 2-2 with 1 save, a 1.64 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.  He tossed 33 innings in the minors and he only has allowed 23 hits, walked 18 batters and he’s whiffed 45.  The Nationals also have placed Robert Fick on the bereavement list and they’ve called up Brandon Watson to replace him on their roster.  Watson will challenge Nook Logan for his job as part time CF with the Nationals.  Watson has played in 57 games this season in AAA ball and he’s 77 for 233 (.330 avg, .739 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 14 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.

The Nationals have designated Winston Abreu and Levale Speigner for assignment and they both deserved it.  Abreu pitched in 19 games this season for the Nationals and he was 0-1 with a 6.34 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP.  In 24 innings, Abreu has allowed 30 hits, 6 homers, walked 7 batters and whiffed 22.  He may or may not clear waivers.  Levale Speigner also had a rough time with the Nationals.  He pitched in 19 games (6 starts) and he was 2-3 with a 8.78 ERA and a 2.03 WHIP.  He threw 40 innings and he allowed 58 hits, walked 23 batters and whiffed 19 so far this season.  It is very likely that Speigner will be returned to the Minnesota Twins which is the team the Nationals selected him from in Winter’s Rule 5 Draft.