The Nationals have placed outfielder Austin Kearns on the 15-day disabled list with a stress fracture in his left foot. Kearns has played in 86 games for the Nationals this season and he is 68 for 313 (.217 avg, .627 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 7 homers and 32 RBIs. This looks like it will be a fitting end to a very disappointing season for Austin Kearns.

The Nationals have recalled 25-year old righty starting pitcher Marco Estrada to replace the departed Luis Ayala on the pitching staff. It’s uncertain at this time whether he will work out of the rotation or in the bullpen. He has started 25 games combined in AA+AAA ball and he has a 9-6 record with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. It was smart to reward Estrada for pitching well in the minors and he will get his big chance to show what he can do in the majors the rest of this season.

The Washington Nationals have traded righty reliever Luis Ayala to the Mets for infielder Anderson Hernandez. Ayala pitched in 62 games for the Nationals this season and he was 1-8 with a 5.77 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Ayala just hasn’t looked the same since he was injured a couple of years ago in the World Baseball Classic. He finishes his career having pitched in 320 games (0 starts) with the Expos/Nationals and he was 27-32 with 9 saves, a 3.33 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. I don’t have a problem with the Nationals dumping Ayala but is it too much to ask to trade him out of the division? Especially when you’re getting garbage back from the other team. The Nationals appear to be collecting middle infielders that can’t hit so Anderson Hernandez should fit right in. The 25-year old switch hittting Hernandez has played in 125 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 97 for 479 (.203 avg, .569 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 5 homers, 36 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Hernandez has also been awful in his major league career. He has played in 35 games in his major league career and he is 12 for 87 (.138 avg, .364 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. This was another awful trade for the Nationals.

The Nationals have placed shortstop Alberto Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. Gonzalez has played in 4 games for the Nationals this season and he is 6 for 13 (.462 avg, 1.225 OPS) with 3 runs scored. He has played well since coming over from the Yankees. The Nationals have activated veteran infielder Aaron Boone off of the D.L. Boone has played in 71 games for the Nationals this season and he is 42 for 163 (.258 avg, .730 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 5 homers and 17 RBIs. Boone will help out the Nationals who have had issues scoring runs all season long.

23-year old righty swinging outfielder Lastings Milledge has been really swinging a hot bat for the Nationals lately. He has played in 12 games this August and he is 19 for 48 (.396 avg, 1.203 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 5 homers, 9 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Milledge has now played in 98 games this season for the Nationals and he is 96 for 373 (.257 avg, .722 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 12 homers, 43 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. The Nationals hope that Milledge keeps hitting like this for a while because they gave up a lot to get him over the winter.