PHILADELPHIA – The revolving door in the Nationals bullpen continued Monday, as veteran reliever Kelvin Herrera went on the 10-day disabled list with a torn Lisfranc ligament in his left foot.
Herrera hurt his left foot while fielding a ground ball in the ninth inning of Washington’s 15-0 win on Sunday in New York against the Mets. He was in a walking boot and crutches in the Nationals clubhouse before Monday’s game in Philadelphia.
“It is awful,” manager Dave Martinez said. “I feel terrible. (Herrera) is a big part of our success here in what we do. For me, it is a foot injury; it is not his arm. He is a free agent (after the season). I know he is concerned about that.”
Herrera, a right-hander, was acquired from the Kansas City Royals in a trade in June. In 21 games with the Nationals, he was 1-2 with a 4.34 ERA and three saves.
When could he return?
“We have no timetable,” Martinez said. “Unfortunately, he is going to miss some time. I understand he is going to get a second opinion.”
Could Herrera be done for the year?
“Yeah, I would assume so,” Martinez said. “He tore a ligament in his foot.”
Herrera was waiting for X-rays and had an MRI on Monday. He came off the disabled list on August 21 after a right rotator cuff impingement. Now, he has a left foot injury.
“I hope it is nothing serious,” Herrera said. “I am hoping for the best.”
To take his spot on the 25-man roster, the Nationals activated veteran right-handed reliever Ryan Madson, who had been on the disabled list since August 14 with lumbar nerve root irritation.
He trained in Arizona with personal trainer Jay Schroeder (not the former Redskins quarterback), whom Madson has worked with since 2012.
“(Schroeder) is amazing,” Madson said. “The best way I can describe it is he is a very good car mechanic (with the body). He diagnoses the problem. He noticed I wasn’t moving properly.”
They worked together for several days and Schroeder pointed out some movements of the body that Madson was able to change.
A World Series winner with the Phillies, Madson is 2-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 48 games with four saves this season for Washington.
“He says he feels good,” Martinez said. “Unfortunately, the timing was good. I would love to have them both. Getting Ryan back helps.”
“I felt great; I was pleasantly surprised,” Madson said. “I feel very confident going into today that I am fine. I went out and played catch again (Monday) and it felt great. I feel very lucky to be back.”
Will Madson be used as a closer?
“We will see right now,” Martinez said. “(Greg) Holland is pitching really well, (Wander) Suero is pitching well. I kind of want to ease his way back into this deal.”
The Nationals entered Monday with a 65-66 record and were 8½ games back of first-place Atlanta in the National League East. Washington had won just four of its last nine games and was 32-35 on the road this season.
Washington won the past two titles in the National League East and has won four titles since 2012.
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