The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday and placed right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow soreness, retroactive to Aug. 21. Cole will start against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Cole, 24, rejoins the Nationals for his second Major League assignment of the season. The right-hander was optioned on Aug. 20 after two days on the big league roster, though he did not appear in a game during that time.
Cole is 8-8 with a 4.26 ERA in 22 starts for Triple-A Syracuse this year. Making his Major League debut in 2015, Cole appeared in three games (one start) for Washington in 2015 and pitched well in two relief appearances: 0-0, 2.45 ERA (2 ER/7.1 IP) with eight strikeouts, no walks, and one save.
A fourth-round selection of the Nationals in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Cole is 46-39 with a 3.63 ERA over the course of his Minor League career.
Strasburg, 28, is 15-4 with a 3.59 ERA in 23 starts this season. He visits the disabled list for the second time this season, missing 17 games from June 16-July 3 with an upper back strain. A 2016 All-Star, Strasburg opened the season 13-0 and did not suffer his first losing decision until July 15.