WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals have designated struggling reliever Brad Lidge for assignment and activated reliever Ryan Mattheus.
The Nationals made the move before Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees.
Lidge signed a $1 million, one-year contract as a free agent to add veteran bullpen depth behind closer Drew Storen and All-Star Tyler Clippard, but the 35-year-old reliever couldn’t find the form that made him a two-time All-Star with Houston and Philadelphia. He went 0-1 with two saves and a 9.64 ERA in 11 appearances with the Nationals, and opponents were batting .308 against him.
Lidge allowed three runs in Washington’s 7-2 loss to the Yankees on Friday and was the losing pitcher against New York on Saturday, giving up two runs in the 14th inning of a 5-3 defeat.
