Chad Cordero will undergo surgery to repair a labrum tear to his right shoulder which will cause him to miss the remainder of the 2008 season. Cordero just pitched in 6 games (0 starts) this season for the Nationals and he was 0-0 with a 2.08 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. Jon Rauch has done a fine job replacing Cordero as the Nationals’ closer so far this season. He has pitched in 41 games (0 starts) for the Nationals this season and he is 4-1 with 16 saves, a 2.18 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP.

The Nationals have placed starting CF Lastings Milledge on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right groin. Milledge has played in 80 games for the Nationals this season and he is 74 for 302 (.245 avg, .680 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 7 homers, 32 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. The Nationals have recalled 23-year old lefty swinging Rogeravin Bernadina from AA to replace Milledge on the roster. Bernadina played in 72 games in AA this season and he was 86 for 265 (.325 avg, .872 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 5 homers, 38 RBIs and 26 stolen bases.

The Nationals have placed righty starting pitcher Shawn Hill on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain. Hill has started 12 games for the Nationals this season and he is 1-5 with a 5.83 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. The Nationals have activated lefty starting pitcher Odalis Perez off the D.L. to replace Hill in the starting rotation. Perez has started 13 games for the Nationals this season and he is 2-5 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP.

1B Nick Johnson is done for the season after undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair a tear in ligament on the ulnar side of his wrist. Johnson played in 38 games for the Nationals this season and he was 24 for 109 (.220 avg, .846 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 5 homers and 20 RBIs. Dmitri Young will replace Johnson as the full time 1B the rest of the season for the Nationals. Young has played in 35 games for the Nationals and he is 30 for 110 (.273 avg, .758 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 3 homers and 8 RBIs.

24-year old righty starter Marco Estrada has really pitched well this season for the Nationals’ AA team. He has started 13 games in AA ball this year and he is 6-3 with a 2.66 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. His only problem has been his control but it’s something that he needs to fix before the Nationals’ give him a chance in the majors. He has walked 32 batters in 74.1 innings but he also has only allowed 62 hits minimizing the damage.