MIAMI -- The Washington Nationals will place right-hander
Ryan Drese on the 15-day disabled list Saturday and purchase the
contract of right-hander Saul Rivera from Triple-A New Orleans.
Drese left Friday night's 5-3 loss to Florida with a sore right
elbow in the fifth inning. He was charged with four runs, four hits
and four walks.
"I felt good all night, but those two last pitches, something
happened," said Drese, who fell to 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA. "It was
pretty painful -- I've never felt anything like this before, so I
don't know how to describe it."
Drese was activated from the disabled list April 9 after
undergoing surgery on his pitching shoulder in September. He did
not pitch in any spring training games.
"It makes it very difficult because we're not real deep in the
first place," Nationals manager Frank Robinson said. "It's not
easy to lose front-line people. We can't afford it."
Two other Nationals players were injured Friday. Jose Guillen
suffered a strained left oblique muscle during batting practice and
did not play. Jose Vidro left the game in the sixth with tightness
in his left hamstring.
Robinson said the players would be evaluated Saturday.
"This is the last thing I need right now -- this is serious,"
Guillen said. "I have to take my time and let it heal. If I have
to take two weeks off to get better, I will."
Vidro said he expected to return to the lineup during the
weekend.
"Don't be alarmed, this is nothing major," Vidro said. "I'm
gonna try [Saturday], but to be sure, it'll probably be Sunday."