Nationals recall LHP Ross Detwiler, designate RHP Collin Balester for assignment

The Washington Nationals today recalled left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and designated right-handed pitcher Collin Balester for assignment. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Detwiler was 6-6 with a 4.53 ERA (44 ER/87.1 IP) in 16 starts for Syracuse at the time of the promotion. Detwiler, 25, went 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA during an especially-strong six-start stretch in June.

Detwiler will make his first start of the season tonight as the Nationals host the Cubs. Detwiler-who will become the seventh starting pitcher to toe the rubber for Washington in 2011-is 2-9 with a 4.74 ERA in 24 games/19 starts spanning portions of three seasons (2007, '09-10) with the Nationals. He was Washington's top pick, the sixth-overall selection, in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

Balester, 25, is 1-1 with a 4.61 ERA in eight appearances with Washington this season.