Ready to celebrate after a second straight strong performance by one of their young starting pitchers, the Nationals instead had to temper their enthusiasm on Wednesday night.
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Cardinals at NationalsWhen » Thursday, 7:05Where » Nationals ParkTV/Radio » MASN(HD)/1500 AM/XMNats » Collin Balester (first appearance of 2009)Cards » Adam Wainwright (10-6, 3.01 ERA)» Win streak! Nats down Mets, 3-1, for second consecutive victory
After a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets, the club placed rookie right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann on the 15-day disabled list with elbow inflammation.
Zimmermann first felt discomfort while throwing a side session earlier in the week. The 23-year-old was scheduled to start on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Instead, that assignment goes to right-handed pitcher Collin Balester, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
“It’s just a little inflammation and we’re just going to be cautious,” Zimmermann said. “I’m not really concerned at all. Just give it a little rest here and come back with a rehab start and be ready to go.”
The plan all season has been for the Nats to limit Zimmermann’s innings. Acting general manager Mike Rizzo has said that about 150 to 160 innings is all the team would be comfortable asking out of a pitcher in his first major-league season. So far, Zimmermann has pitched 91 1/3 innings with a 4.63 ERA and a 3-5 record. But he also has struck out 92 batters, most among all rookie pitchers in the National League, and walked just 29.
“So we felt why let him pitch with any discomfort when we’re going to limit him anyway,” said Nats interim manager Jim Riggleman. “Let’s let him get to 100 percent and then attain those 150 innings in August and September.
Balester, 23, had a rough spring training which continued early in the season at Syracuse. But he has come on in recent months with a 6-4 record and a 3.38 ERA over his last 12 starts there. Balester was 3-7 in 15 starts with the Nats last summer and posted a 5.51 ERA.
