The Washington Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg from the 10-day disabled list and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 60-day disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Wander Suero to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Trevor Gott was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse last Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
Strasburg, 29, returns to the Nationals after being placed on the 10-day disabled list on June 10 with right shoulder inflammation. He is 6-6 with a 3.46 ERA in 13 starts for Washington in 2018. He has recorded 95 strikeouts against just 19 walks.
Prior to his June 8 start against the San Francisco Giants, Strasburg ranked among National League pitchers in strikeouts (4th, 93), strikeout-to-walk ratio (5th, 4.89), WHIP (7th, 1.06), opp. OBP (7th, .274), wins (T7th, 6), opp. AVG (10th, .220), and hits allowed per 9.0 IP (11th, 7.32). Along with teammates Gio Gonzalez and Max Scherzer, he ranked in the top 10 in the National League in opp. AVG with runners in scoring position (8th, .196) at the time of the injury.
Zimmerman, 33, was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right oblique on May 12 (retroactive to May 10) and was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on June 30. In 33 games this season, Zimmerman is hitting .217 with three doubles, two triples, five homers, 16 RBI, nine walks and 11 runs scored.
In 16 games prior to his injury, Zimmerman went 19-for-61 (.311) with three doubles, one triple, four homers, 11 RBI and five walks. He hit safely in 12 of the 16 games while posting a .364 on-base percentage and a .590 slugging percentage.
Suero, 26, has appeared in 16 games for the Nationals, going 1-0 with a 3.15 ERA (7 ER/ 20.0 IP) and 17 strikeouts. He has offered scoreless relief in 12 of his 16 outings.