The Nationals have released 40-year old lefty reliever Ron Villone. Villone pitched in 41 games (1 start) in AAA-ball for the Nationals this year and he was 2-5 with 1 save, a 6.59 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP. Villone gave up 50 hits (7 homers) and he walked 30 batters in 42 1/3 innings this season. There is more than enough evidence that Villone’s career is near the end of the line so the Nationals won’t miss him one bit.

In 2008 + 2009, Livan Hernandez pitched in 62 games (all starts) in which he was 22-23 with a 5.74 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. He looked like his career was nearing an end until this year. He has started 23 games for the Nationals this year and he is 8-7 with a 3.03 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. It’s amazing to watch him pitch as his fastball rarely gets over 85 mph and his big breaking curveball is usually around 65-69 mph. But he’s doing a great job of mixing up his pitches and keeping batters thinking. I think he could finish the season strongly for the Nationals.

The Nationals will activate Stephen Strasburg off the D.L. to start tomorrow’s ball game. He has started 9 games for the Nationals this year and he is 5-2 with a 2.32 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He has only given up 43 hits while whiffing 75 batters in only 54 1/3 innings so far this year. The Nationals were smart to take it easy with Strasburg and give him some time off because of his importance to the organization both now and in the future. Craig Stammen will be bumped from the rotation to work out of the pen. Stammen has started 19 games for the Nationals this year and he is 4-4 with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.

The Nationals have placed 24-year old lefty starting pitcher Ross Detwiler on the 15-day disabled list with a hip injury. Detwiler has started 3 games for the Nationals this year and he is 0-2 with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP. He will be replaced in the starting rotation by Jason Marquis who has been activated off the D.L. Marquis has started 4 games for the Nationals this year and he is 0-4 with a 15.32 ERA and a 2.51 WHIP. The Nationals really need Marquis to start earning his paycheck this time around.

The Nationals have acquired 27-year old righty swinging SS/2B Brian Bixler from the Pirates for cash considerations. Bixler has played in 75 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 70 of 265 (.264 avg, .869 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 3 homers, 28 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He has played in 68 games in parts of two years in the majors and he is 27 of 152 (.178 avg, .475 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 5 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Bixler is a good defensive player but he can’t hit too well so I don’t think he’ll have much of a role with the Nationals even if they do call him up.