Ryan Mattheus News

It didn't work. Over the last few weeks, the Nationals have overhauled their bullpen, in large part to address that weakness.

So in anticipation for this weekend's series against the Washington Nationals, I reached out to Andrew Flax, editor for District on Deck , to get his take on the Nationals and their less than spectacular start to the 2013 season.

In a surprising move today, the Nationals have optioned reliever Erik Davis back to Triple A Syracuse as Ross Detwiler returns from the disabled list.

Washington's starter on Sunday, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, brings a 9-3 record with a sterling 2.00 ERA into a matchup with the Indians' Scott Kazmir.

In their starting rotation alone, Stephen Strasburg , Gio Gonzalez and Dan Haren have six All-Star appearances between them, with Gonzalez being the 2012 NL win leader and a Cy Young Award nominee.

Garcia impressed last year in a September call-up and earned a spot on the postseason roster.

Video: The Post Sports Live crew looks at the issues plaguing the Washington Nationals, including injuries to Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg and the team's poor defense.

As the Washington Nationals' season creeps closer to the precipice, 20-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper will visit renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews on Monday to receive another opinion on his swollen left knee, which has seen little improvement even though Harper hasn't played since May 26. Harper, the Nationals' best, most dynamic player ... (more)

Undeniably, the main reasons the Nationals have reached this point are injuries and impotent offense.

There wasn't all that much for the Nationals to feel good about when they packed up and left Turner Field on Sunday, but the major league debut of right-handed reliever Erik Davis was certainly one of them.

As the Washington Nationals packed up and prepared to go home after a 1-4 road trip through Baltimore and Atlanta, there was one piece of news to uplift them: Jayson Werth is getting close.

There was a time that Erik Davis wondered if this type of phone call would ever come.

After he missed the last five games with inflammation in his left knee caused by bursitis, the Nationals announced they'll place Bryce Harper on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday.

Manager Davey Johnson and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman chat prior to the season series finale on Thursday night at Camden Yards.

"Small sample size." Bet you've heard that phrase, ohhhhh, I don't know, about 10,000 times so far this season.

The Washington Nationals today placed right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus on the 15-Day DL, retroactive to May 20, with a fractured right hand, optioned outfielder Eury Perez to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League, recalled right-handed pitcher Yunesky Maya from Syracuse and selected left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad from Syracuse.

Delmon Young and Domonic Brown delivered two-out RBI hits to break open a tie game in the eighth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Saturday.

The Nationals' offense struggled mightily in its first 48 regular season games, but manager Davey Johnson said before Saturday's game that his biggest worry is not the bats, but the bullpen.

RHP Yunesky Maya was designated for assignment Friday, just four days after he had been called up from Triple-A Syracuse.

The manager apologized for his scraggly appearance before Friday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, but he said it had a purpose.