Nationals select RHP Ryan Mattheus from Syracuse, place RHP Cole

The Washington Nationals today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed right-handed pitcher Cole Kimball (right shoulder inflammation) on the 15-Day Disabled List. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Mattheus (pronounced math-yooz) posted two saves and 10.0 scoreless innings during nine relief appearances with the Chiefs. Including a 13-game stint with Double-A Harrisburg, he is 2-1 with six saves and a 1.46 ERA in 22 appearances in 2011. Mattheus has a .143 batting average against with 28 strikeouts in 24.2 innings this season.

The 27-year-old is 3-2 with six saves and a 1.25 ERA in 32 games/four starts since returning from July 2009 "Tommy John" ligament-replacement surgery on July 31, 2010.

Mattheus was acquired from the Colorado Rockies on July 31, 2009, just weeks after his ligament-replacement surgery, as part of a three-player trade that sent left-handed pitcher Joe Beimel to Colorado. He is 32-42 with 23 saves and a 4.93 ERA in 193 games/88 starts during his career.

Kimball, 25, is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 12 games this season with Washington.

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