Washington Nationals claim former Toronto Blue Jays left-hander off waivers

The Washington Nationals have announced that they claimed left-handed pitcher Richard Lovelady off waivers from the New York Mets.

Lovelady was designated for assignment by New York last week to clear roster space following the club’s acquisition of Vidal Bruján.

To make room for Lovelady on their own roster, the Nationals designated utility player Mickey Gasper for assignment.

The 29-year-old southpaw has accumulated 111 innings at the major league level across multiple seasons and with several organizations.

Over that span, he’s posted a 5.35 ERA, striking out 21.1% of opposing hitters while walking 8.7%.

He’s also shown an ability to keep the ball on the ground, generating a 50.9% ground-ball rate.

Lovelady was frequently on the move last season, bouncing from the Blue Jays to the Twins before landing with the Mets, who shuttled him on and off their roster several times.

He made just 10 MLB appearances amid all the transactions, struggling to an 8.49 ERA.

His performance at Triple-A told a different story. Across 38 innings at the level, Lovelady recorded a stellar 1.66 ERA, paired with a 26.3% strikeout rate, an 8.6% walk rate and a 52.6% ground-ball rate.

While it’s possible Washington could attempt to pass Lovelady through waivers down the line and future roster moves may alter the picture, he currently finds himself in a favorable situation — one that gives him a legitimate opportunity to compete for a spot on the Nationals’ Opening Day roster.

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