Who will get the call in September?

Photo by USA Today

The Nationals are about to enter September under much different circumstances than they did last season, with different priorities as they get set to expand their roster. Instead of looking for specialists to use sparingly during a pennant race, the Nats can see what a few players have at the big league level and maybe even showcase guys for future trades.

In 2011 when the Nats were also around the .500 mark, they brought up six players, including Steve Lombardozzi, who became a key bench player on the NL East-winning 2012 club, and Brad Peacock, who helped them land Gio Gonzalez the following winter.

Who will get a look this season? Here are a few names to watch as the Nats get ready to expand their roster:

Good bets

LHP Ian Krol – This one’s easy. Davey Johnson already said the Nats plan to call Krol back up in September, after the lefty was optioned to Syracuse on Aug. 21 to make room for Ross Ohlendorf. Krol gave up five earned runs in his last seven innings before being sent down and will look to find the success he had when he was first called up in early June. He should see as much game action as any of the call-ups and could lock up a bullpen role for next season.

RHP Ryan Mattheus – Mattheus was also sent down recently, on Aug. 15, and the roster expansion should help him return to Washington. Mattheus struggled after coming back from the DL on July 26, leaving for Syracuse with a 6.26 ERA through 23 innings this season with the Nats. He’s been okay in three outings in Triple-A since the demotion (1 ER in 3 IP) so we’ll see if he can finish the season strong. 

Stiff back for Detwiler, Davis recalled

USA Today Sports Images

NEW YORK — Ross Detwiler is dealing with stiffness in his lower back, an ailment that could prevent the Nationals left-hander from making his next start.

That revelation, combined with some other developments over the last couple of days, prompted the Nationals to add another arm to their bullpen today: Right-hander Erik Davis was recalled from Class AAA, with outfielder Jeff Kobernus optioned to Syracuse to make room on the roster.

Detwiler showed no signs of injury during his start Friday night against the Mets, in which he allowed three runs (two earned) over five innings.

"He threw a lot of pitches in five innings," manager Davey Johnson said. "I thought he threw the ball well. I didn't notice anything

Game 65: Nats at Rockies

USA Today Sports Images

It's been 29 days since Ross Detwiler last pitched, a strained right oblique muscle having shelved him for nearly a month. Today, the left-hander returns to the mound, healthy and hoping to pick up where he left off. In eight starts before the injury, Detwiler sported a 2.76 ERA, certainly pitching better than his 2-4 record would suggest.

The Nationals have missed their No. 5 starter and gladly welcome him back with open arms this afternoon as they seek to win their second straight against the Rockies and take this series. With Detwiler officially activated off the DL, reliever Erik Davis has been optioned to Class AAA Syracuse. That means Ross Ohlendorf is sticking around for now, though the Nats will need to make another roster move on Sunday when Stephen Strasburg returns.

After watching his club score five runs last night against Jorge De La Rosa and Co., Davey Johnson is going with a similar lineup against fellow lefty Jeff Francis. That means Jeff Kobernus makes his second straight start in left field, batting second. The only change: Kurt Suzuki returns behind the plate, batting eighth.

Though I'm not in Denver for this series, I will be watching alongside all of you this afternoon. And I'll have an Instant Analysis post as soon as the game ends, so be sure to check back for that...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at COLORADO ROCKIES
Where: Coors Field
Gametime: 3:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), XM 184
Weather: Partly cloudy, 82 degrees, Wind 10 mph in from RF

NATIONALS (32-32)
CF Denard Span
LF Jeff Kobernus
3B Ryan Zimmerman
RF Jayson Werth

LHP J.C. Romero opts out of deal with Nats

Photo by the Associated Press

Relief pitcher J.C. Romero has opted out of his contract with the Washington Nationals to leave the organization and seek a job with another team. He had spent the season’s first two months with the Nats’ Triple-A affiliate Syracuse Chiefs.

Romero signed a minor league deal with Washington in late March after impressing at the World Baseball Classic and joined the club in spring training. He had previously been a part of the organization in 2011 for about two weeks before leaving to sign with the Yankees.

In 13 appearances with Syracuse this season, Romero posted a 2.84 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings. After holding a 0.82 ERA in April through his first ten outings, Romero was sidelined for most of May with shoulder stiffness. Before his June 1 opt-out date came around, he had not pitched since May 8.

If it weren’t for the injury Romero may have been given a shot with the big league club in late May. Reliever Ryan Mattheus was sent to the disabled list with a broken pitching hand and the Nats needed help in their bullpen. With Romero out, the Nats called up lefty Fernando Abad. Since his promotion, Abad has established himself with zero earned runs and just one walk in six appearances this season.

Game 56: Nats at Braves

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Gio Gonzalez faces Tim Hudson tonight at Turner Field.

ATLANTA — After a crazy Friday night that saw Stephen Strasburg get hurt and the Nationals somehow pull out a 3-2 victory, they're back at Turner Field tonight for the second game of this big weekend series with the Braves with more injury news to report: Bryce Harper has officially been placed on the 15-day DL with bursitis in his left knee. The move is retroactive to May 27, so he's eligible to return June 11 against the Rockies.

Erik Davis takes Harper's spot on the roster, adding another right-hander to a bullpen that was taxed last night because of Strasburg's early exit with an oblique strain. Neither Craig Stammen nor Tyler Clippard are expected to be available tonight, so the pressure's on Gio Gonzalez to churn out a quality start and not force Davey Johnson to turn to his bullpen early again.

It would also help if the Nationals can get something going at the plate against Tim Hudson, never an easy task. Though he's 4-4 with a 5.37 ERA overall this season, he's 2-0 with a 1.27 ERA against the Nats (16-5, 2.55 ERA in his career against the franchise).

A friendly reminder that tonight's game is on Fox. Dick Stockton and Tom Verducci have the call. Here's the coverage map (and note that parts of Virginia will not be getting this game).

Updates to come...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Turner Field
Gametime: 7:15 p.m. EDT
TV: Fox (coverage map)
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), XM 89
Weather: Partly cloudy, 84 degrees, Wind 7 mph out to LF

NATIONALS (28-27)
CF Denard Span
LF Steve Lombardozzi
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche

Harper to DL, Davis recalled

[Updated 3:45 p.m.]

ATLANTA — The Nationals have placed outfielder Bryce Harper, still unable to play with bursitis in his left knee, on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to May 27) and promoted right-hander Erik Davis from Class AAA Syracuse to provide a fresh arm to a bullpen overworked as a result of Stephen Strasburg's oblique strain.

Harper heads to the DL with bursitis in his knee, the condition that has plagued the 20-year-old slugger since he slammed into the wall at Dodger Stadium 19 days ago. He is eligible to return June 11.

Strasburg, meanwhile, is headed back to Washington today to be examined by team medical director Wiemi Douoguih after departing last night's game with a strained right oblique muscle that could land the ace on the DL himself.

Nats cut eight, release Snyder

Photo by USA Today

[UPDATED 11:50 a.m.]

The Washington Nationals have announced another round of spring training cuts, sending six players to Triple-A Syracuse and two to minor league camp. The team also granted 32 year old catcher Chris Snyder an unconditional release.

Pitchers Ryan Perry, Erik Davis, and Yunesky Maya, as well as infielder Chris Marrero, catcher Jhonatan Solano, and outfielder Corey Brown are all off to Triple-A. Reassigned to minor league camp are pitcher Ross Ohlendorf and infielder Zach Walters. 

Davis and Maya head north after strong springs that on other teams may have warranted big league roster spots. Davis held a 1.13 ERA through eight innings across seven games, with just one earned run allowed and two walks. He struck out eight batters and posted a .148 batting average against. Maya appeared in five games with a 2.25 ERA and seven strikeouts through eight innings pitched. 

Perry, on the other hand, had a rough spring with a 10.24 ERA in 9 2/3 innings pitched. He allowed 11 earned runs and four walks with a .325 BAA.

Nats add Karns, Davis to 40-man

The Nationals purchased the contracts of Nathan Karns and Erik Davis tonight, adding both right-handers to their 40-man roster and protecting them from being selected in next month's Rule 5 draft.

All major-league clubs were required to finalize their 40-man rosters before midnight, with any eligible players who were not added to the roster now available to other clubs via the Rule 5 draft.

Among those left unprotected by the Nationals were left-hander Danny Rosenbaum, second baseman Jeff Kobernus and outfielder Destin Hood.

The Nationals were more worried about Karns and Davis being plucked away in the draft, which requires the player's new club to keep him on the big-league roster for a full season or else offer him back to his former organization.

Karns, who turns 25 on Sunday, earned organizational pitcher of the year honors after going a combined 11-4 with a 2.17 ERA in 24