The Nationals have placed lefty reliever Joe Beimel on the 15-day disabled list with a left hip flexor strain. Beimel pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Nationals so far this season and he is 0-1 with a 1.23 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. The Nationals have recalled righty reliever Saul Rivera to replace Beimel on the roster. The Nationals will miss Beimel but they would still benefit from Rivera getting back on the right track.

After the Nationals blew a lead yesterday to fall to 1-10 on the season they decided to make mass changes. The Nationals demoted lefty reliever Wil Ledezma, righty relievers Steven Shell and Saul Rivera and catcher Josh Bard to AAA. Ledezma pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Nationals this season and he was 0-0 with a 9.53 ERA and a 2.12 WHIP earning his demotion. Bard played in 7 games for the Nationals this season and he was 3 for 15 (.200 avg, .450 OPS) with 1 run scored. Steven Shell pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Nationals this season and he was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He probably didn’t deserve to get the axe based on how well he pitched last season for the Nationals. Saul Rivera has pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Nationals this season and he is 0-3 with a 12.72 ERA and a 2.59 WHIP. These four guys are the scapegoats for the putrid start to the 2009 season that the Nationals are off to.

To take the place of the four demoted players the Nationals have promoted righty pitchers Jordan Zimmermann, Jason Bergmann, Garrett Mock and Kip Wells. The 22-year old righty starting pitcher Jordan Zimmerman will step right into the Nationals’ starting rotation. Zimmermann is the #1 rated prospect in the Nationals’ minor league system according to Baseball America. Zimmermann has pitched in 1 game (a start) in AAA-ball this season and he was 0-0 with a 5.06 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. In his two previous seasons in the minors, Zimmermann has pitched in 38 games (35 starts) in which he was 15-5 with 1 save, a 2.74 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He should do a good job for the Nationals as a rookie this season. Jason Bergmann has converted to the bullpen after being a starting pitcher early in his career. He has pitched in 4 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball so far this year and he was 0-0 with 1 save, a 3.00 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Garrett Mock pitched in 5 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this season and he was 0-0 with 2 saves, a 17.18 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. Kip Wells was off to a outstanding start in AAA for the Nationals starting 2 games in which he was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. The Nationals hope that these moves give the pitching staff a spark.

The Nationals have placed outfielder Rogeravin Bernadina on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured ankle. Bernadina played in 3 games for the Nationals so far this season and he was 1 for 4 (.250 avg, .900 OPS) with 1 run scored and 1 stolen base. The Nationals have recalled 25-year old righty swinging outfielder Justin Maxwell to replace Bernadina on the active roster. Maxwell has played in 1 game for the Nationals so far and he is 0 for 1 (.000 avg). Maxwell has also played in 9 games in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 8 for 34 (.235 avg, .745 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 2 homers, 4 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.

The Nationals have placed starting shortstop Christian Guzman on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Guzman has played in 7 games for the Nationals this season and he is 17 for 33 (.515 avg, 1.091 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 4 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Guzman has been replaced in the starting lineup by 26-year old righty swinging Alberto Gonzalez. Gonzalez has played in 8 games for the Nationals this season and he is 6 for 22 (.273 avg, .833 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. Gonzalez will be backup up by Alex Cintron who has been recently recalled by the Nationals. Cintron has played in 2 games so far for the Nationals and he is 0 for 2 (.000 avg). Cintron has also played in 5 games in AAA-ball this season and he was 9 for 18 (.500 avg, 1.030 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs. The Nationals need Guzman back as he is the player who ignites the offense.

The Nationals have demoted Lastings Milledge to AAA. He played in 7 games for the Nationals so far this season and he was 4 for 24 (.167 avg, .398 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base. Milledge rubbed manager Manny Acta the wrong way by showing up late a few times and the Nationals hope this will serve as a wake up call. Elijah Dukes will take over as the starting CF for the Nationals and he’s off to a great start to the 2009 season. Dukes has played in 7 games this season and he is 9 for 25 (.360 avg, 1.087 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 2 homers and 6 RBIs. Austin Kearns will handle RF full time for the Nationals with Milledge out of the picture. He has played in 8 games for the Nationals this season and he is 4 for 23 (.174 avg, .712 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs. The Nationals need more out of Kearns with the bat or Josh Willingham will push him for playing time soon.