Lefty reliever Matt Grace, drafted by the Nationals in 2010, was designated for assignment by the club before Friday’s home game with the Marlins.
Grace was selected out of UCLA in 2010 in the eighth round and made his MLB debut five years later with the Nationals. He pitched in 178 games with the team but struggled out of the bullpen this year, with an ERA of 6.36 in 51 total games.
When a player is designated for assignment a team has 10 days to trade, release, put him on waivers or return him to the 40-man roster.
Other moves included the return of lefty reliever Roenis Elias from the injured list after a hamstring injury, while right-handed reliever Hunter Strickland returned from the paternity list. Earlier catcher Spencer Kieboom was sent back to Double-A Harrisburg, which starts the Eastern League playoffs Wednesday on the road.
Lefty closer Sean Doolittle is expected to return from the injured list this weekend. The Athletic reported he would throw in a minor league rehab game Friday in Frederick with Single-A Potomac, the Carolina League farm team of Washington.
The Nationals (74-58) entered Friday 5 ½ games back of first-place Atlanta in the National League East but held the top Wild Card spot.
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