Washington Nationals return Grace, Collins to bullpen, place Hellickson on 10-day DL

Washington Nationals starter Jeremy Hellickson is on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. Hellickson (2-0, 2.28 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 34K/6BB in 43.1IP in 2018), left Sunday’s start at Atlanta after just four pitches.

Jefry Rodriguez, who threw 4.2 scoreless innings in emergency long relief after Hellickson’s injury, was optioned back to Double-A Harrisburg. Rodriguez is 4-3 with a 3.88 ERA in 11 starts at Harrisburg in 2018, after going 4-3 with a 3.32 ERA at High-A Potomac in 2017.

The Nats also welcomed back lefty reliever Matt Grace (4.63 ERA, 0.94 WHIP in 11 appearances in 2018) from a rehab assignment, and another lefty reliever, Tim Collins (0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP in six appearances in 2018) from the paternity list.

Next up

The Nats have an off-day Thursday. Friday, the San Francisco Giants come to town for the first of a three-game series at Nats Park. Stephen Strasburg (6-5, 3.20 ERA, 1.06 WHIP in 2018) gets the start for the Nats against Giants lefty Andrew Suarez (2-4, 4.74 ERA, 1.21 WHIP in 2018). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.