Nationals place Felipe Rivero on 15-Day DL with GI bleed, recall LHP Matt Grace

After trading DFA'd left-hander Xavier Cedeno to the Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon, the Washington Nationals announced tonight that the lefty who replaced Cedeno in the bullpen, Felipe Rivero, was being placed on the 15-Day DL, retroactive to April 18th, with what the Nats' press release on the move described as a "GI bleed".

Rivero, 23, made his MLB debut last Friday night after he was called up to the majors, giving up a run on three hits and recording two Ks in the Nationals' 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

To replace Rivero on the roster, and give the Nationals two left-handers in the bullpen, Washington called 26-year-old southpaw Matt Grace up. Grace, a 2010 8th Round pick out of UCLA, put together an impressive 2014 campaign in his fifth season in the Nats' system, posting a 1.02 ERA, a 2.56 FIP, 12 walks (3.06 BB/9) and 32 Ks (8.15 K/9) in 35 ⅓ IP at Double-A Harrisburg and a 1.30 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 13 walks (2.81 BB/9) and 30 Ks 6.48 K/9) in 41 ⅔ IP at Triple-A Syracuse.

Grace started the 2015 campaign back with the Nationals' top minor league affiliate, giving up seven hits and three earned runs in 7 ⅔ IP before he was called up today.

The Nationals' press release on today's move noted that Grace "utilizes a heavy fastball/sinker combination to help him induce ground balls at a high rate," and pointed out that he is (14-5) with a 2.32 ERA since becoming a full-time reliever in 2013.

The Nats sent Grace to the Arizona Fall League last Fall, where he put up a 3.18 ERA in 11 ⅓  IP.

Check out the rest of the press release and info on Grace through the link below.

The #Nats have recalled LHP Matt Grace & placed LHP Felipe Rivero on 15-day DL w/a GI bleed: http://t.co/tZhEs5qFi7 pic.twitter.com/qSLCzPPMNK

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 22, 2015

The Nationals announced in the press box before tonight that Grace, wearing no.60, is available out of the bullpen tonight if needed...