Barrett seeking answers to elbow issue

WASHINGTON -- After Trea Turner was called up to the big leagues, the Nationals placed Aaron Barrett on the 60-day disabled list with a sprained right elbow.

Barrett is getting a third opinion on the elbow and hopes to get an answer on what's wrong Monday. He is not expected to be back with the team any time soon.

"Obviously, my elbow is sore at the moment. I'm getting all the testing that I can get, seeing all the doctors I need to see and make the right decision moving forward. That's all I can really tell you right now. I'm going to see another doctor soon."

Asked if he needed major surgery, Barrett said, "I'm not at liberty [to say anything]. All I can tell you is my elbow isn't good. I'm trying to get as much testing as possible."

Barrett appeared in 40 games and had a 4.50 ERA for Washington before he was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Aug. 6. He was placed on the disabled list the next day after telling the team that his elbow was hurting. Barrett said he was pitching in pain prior to going on the DL.

"It was something I was battling," Barrett said. "I didn't communicate it with the coaching staff. We all have nicks and pains we try to battle through. It's part of the game. I'm trying to help my team win, compete the best that I could. They optioned me down and I let them know what was going on with my elbow. That's when they made the decision to put me on the DL."

Worth noting
First baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left ankle. According to manager Matt Williams, Moore hurt the ankle when he stepped on a ball in the batting cage on Thursday and twisted his ankle. The Nationals couldn't afford to play with three players on the bench, so that's why the team called up Turner.