Nationals recall Blake Treinen, option Aaron Barrett to Triple-A Syracuse

In five relief appearances out of the bullpen for the Syracuse Chiefs after he was sent down to the Washington's Nationals' top minor league affiliate back on July 20th, 27-year-old right-hander Blake Treinen gave up six hits and a walk (0.75 BB/9), but no runs (0.00 ERA, 1.09 FIP) in 12 innings, collecting 14 strikeouts (10.50 K/9) over that stretch.

When he was optioned out of the Nats' 'pen, Treinen was in the midst of a rough stretch, having put up a 4.39 ERA, a 3.19 FIP, 21 walks (4.61 BB/9) and 44 Ks (9.66 K/9) in 41 innings over which opposing hitters had a .272/.363/.378 line against him.

"For Blake it's about consistency," manager Matt Williams explained after the move was announced.

"We know the kind of talent that he's got. It's heavy sink coming out of his hand, and at 97 or 98 mph. The issues that he's had with some left-handed hitters this year is something to work on."

"We'll give him an opportunity to get down there, get that consistent work and get him stretched out if we can.

"He'll be able to go down and throw three innings if we needed him to do that, he's perfectly fine to do that, but he'll just work on some things and be back here quickly."

Three weeks later, the Nationals have called Treinen back up to the major league 'pen, announcing this afternoon that they were optioning Aaron Barrett to Triple-A after a rough outing last night in which the right-hander gave up four hits and three runs in a ⅓ of an inning after coming on in relief of Gio Gonzalez.

In 40 appearances and 29 ⅓ innings pitched, Barrett, 27, has put up a 4.60 ERA, a 2.17 FIP, seven walks (2.15 BB/9) and 35 Ks (10.74 K/9), with opposing hitters posting a .248/.309/.327 line against him.

• We talked about the Nationals' frustrating loss and more on last night's edition of Nats Nightly: