Patterson Put On 15-Day DL, Day Activated

ST. LOUIS, April 28 -- The Washington Nationals placed right-hander John Patterson on the 15-day disabled list Friday despite the fact that Patterson's strained right forearm is well enough that he'll make a pair of minor league rehabilitation starts over the next two weeks.

Washington, in turn, activated right-hander Zach Day, the former National who was claimed off waivers on Wednesday from Colorado. Day threw an eight-minute bullpen session on Friday afternoon and declared that his right shoulder -- in which he has experienced spasms -- felt good. If he has no setbacks on Saturday, he will start Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals.

The development puts even more strain on an already taxed Nationals' pitching staff. Patterson has battled the forearm strain since his final start of the exhibition season, yet has at times been dominant, holding the opposition to a .189 average with a 1-0 record and a 3.86 ERA in four starts. Both Patterson and Nationals officials, however, said the move is meant to take care of Patterson in the long term.

"John's an important part of the future of the Nationals," General Manager Jim Bowden said. "As an organization, we have to take care of him."

Patterson said he agreed with the decision. The move is retroactive to April 22, the day after Patterson's last start, and he is scheduled to throw a game at extended spring training on Wednesday in Viera, Fla., then will pitch again on May 8 for Class A Potomac.

If he has no setbacks, he would return to the Nationals' rotation May 13 at Atlanta.

"This takes a lot of the stress off of me," Patterson said. "I was kind of having to sweat out what the plan was going to be."

Day returns to the Washington-Montreal franchise, the club with which he played his first 3 1/2 seasons in the majors before he was traded to Colorado last July.

The Nationals believe he was hurt by the thin Denver air.

He allowed 13 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings at Coors Field this season.

"I just want to get back to where I was," Day said.