The Nationals officially recalled Yunesky Maya from Triple-A Syracuse this morning to start this afternoon in the series finale against the San Diego Padres.
Maya, a 29-year-old Cuban right-hander the Nationals signed to a $6 million major league deal last summer, was less successful than they expected in five career major league starts in 2010 going 0-3 with a 5.88 ERA.
Maya was 1-4 but with an improved 3.79 ERA in nine starts this season with Triple-A Syracuse.
This will be his first major league start of the 2011 season as the Nationals became the last team in the major leagues to need a sixth starter this year. Tom Gorzelanny went on the disabled list with elbow inflammation retroactive to May 24, providing the opportunity for Maya to start today.
