Nationals closer Doolittle on DL, will miss All-Star Game

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle, left, and catcher Matt Wieters, right, celebrates after closing the ninth inning of an opening day game against the Cincinnati Reds. (Gary Landers/AP)

PITTSBURGH — The Washington Nationals placed All-Star closer Sean Doolittle on the 10-day disabled list with left toe inflammation, optioned right-handed pitcher Jefry Rodriguez to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled right-handed pitchers Wander Suero and Austin Voth from Syracuse on Tuesday.

Doolittle, 31, hasn’t pitched since July 6. The following day, he tripped over a pitching mound and first experienced discomfort in his left toe.

The left-hander has a 1.45 ERA and has converted 22 of 23 save opportunities this season. He will not pitch in the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, which is being held at Nationals Park on July 17.

Kelvin Herrera will close games while Doolittle is out. He had 14 saves with the Kansas City Royals before he was traded to Washington on June 19.

Voth is scheduled to start Saturday against the New York Mets. Rodriguez was 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA in five appearances with the Nationals.

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