The Nationals have called up LHP Evan Lee from Double-A Harrisburg, and Lee was set to make his MLB debut in Wednesday’s matinee in Queens against the Mets.
The Nats also called up shortstop Luis Garcia from Triple-A Rochester, and he was in the lineup in place of Alcides Escobar, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring.
Lee, 24, was the Nats’ 15th-round pick in 2018 out of Arkansas, and he was 0-3 with a 3.60 ERA in seven starts at Harrisburg. He had an 11.1 K/9 ratio for the Senators but also a 4.5 BB/9, numbers around what he posted last season in 77 innings at High-A Wilmington.
He ostensibly takes the rotation spot (for now) of Aaron Sanchez, who was designated for assignment over the weekend after allowing seven runs in 3 2/3 innings in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader. Washington would have needed a spot starter Wednesday anyway, as both Sanchez and Joan Adon started Saturday, meaning neither would be on regular rest until Thursday.
Garcia, 22, was hitting .314 with eight home runs and 32 RBI in 42 games in Rochester, and was one of the Red Wings’ top offensive players.
He has hit .254 with eight homers in 110 MLB games with the Nats in 2020-21, and manager Dave Martinez said before Wednesday’s game that the man GM Mike Rizzo called “the Nationals’ future at shortstop” will play there every day while Escobar is out.
Escobar is out after leaving Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Mets after the fourth inning, shortly after making an incredible fielding play to end the fourth. He was pinch-hit for in the top of the fifth and told reporters after the game it was just a cramp, but clearly, something more serious is at play.
The other reciprocal move for Lee and Garcia was LHP Francisco Perez being optioned to Triple-A. Perez allowed two runs in one inning of work against the Mets Tuesday night, and had allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings over six appearance for the Nats this season.
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