Late this afternoon, the Washington Nationals announced that 28-year-old right-handed reliever Chad Gaudin had been placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 26th with what was described as right shoulder inflammation. The veteran of six major league teams and nine major league seasons signed with the Nats this winter, and won a job in the bullpen this Spring, but Gaudin struggled at the start of the season, giving up 12 hits, eight walks and 10 runs, six earned in 10 games and 8.1 IP before the announcement.
24-year-old RHP Henry Rodriguez, acquired from the Oakland A's along with OF Corey Brown in the deal that sent Josh Willingham to the AL West, will return and be reinstated from a rehab stint which saw the hard-throwing right-hander strike out 16 while allowing eight hits, two runs, one earned, and six walks in nine games (one start) and 12.1 IP between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse in which he held opponents to a .190 BAA. Rodriguez is reportedly in D.C. and at Nationals Park already.