Dooloittle visits the Doctor

Sean Doolittle has pitched tremendously at the back end of the Nationals’ bullpen this season, racking up 22 saves in 23 opportunities while delivering a 1.45 ERA, 0.54 WHIP, and 49/3 K/BB ratio over 37 1/3 innings.

But he suffered a pinched nerve in his left toe when he tripped on the mound late last week and the Nationals placed the left-handed closer on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to July 7, with the expectation that he will be fully healed coming out of next week’s All-Star break.

Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced Tuesday evening that Kelvin Herrera, who was acquired from the Royals last month, will fill in at closer while Doolittle is sidelined. That might only mean a handful of games -- and maybe just a couple of save opportunities -- if Doolittle is able to return when play resumes for the second half of the 2018 regular season.

But perhaps this toe injury will linger a little longer than Doolittle or the Nationals expect it to.

Whatever the case, Herrera is worth picking up again in fantasy leagues where he was dropped.

The 28-year-old right-hander has not been as sharp in Washington as he was for the first 11 weeks of the season in Kansas City, but the sample size is obviously much smaller with the Nationals than it was with the Royals and Herrera does hold an excellent 1.83 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 31/6 K/BB ratio in 34 1/3 innings overall. Before the trade, he had racked up 14 saves for a Royals team that has been sitting in last place in the American League Central since early April.

Bryant Could Return On Wednesday

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant landed on the disabled list June 23 with left shoulder inflammation and then felt a twinge in his upper left arm during an early-July workout, but all is well now.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said before Tuesday’s game against the Giants that Bryant will be in San Francisco for Wednesday’s series finale at AT&T Park and could immediately return to the starting lineup as long as there are no overnight setbacks. "I think there's an opportunity he might be able to play tomorrow," Maddon told MLB.com. "We had hoped that it would work out this way and it looks like it's going to."

Bryant played in consecutive minor league rehab games with Double-A Tennessee on Monday night and Tuesday afternoon, going 2-for-6 with a two-run home run and an RBI single.

The 26-year-old has tallied just nine homers and 36 RBI in 66 games this season with Chicago, and his OPS is down 82 points from where it was in 2017, but this shoulder issue may have played a factor in the diminished power production and we can probably look forward to much better numbers in the second half.

Bryant led off for the Cubs in five straight games before hitting the disabled list. Maddon said he’s unsure whether he’ll continue with that strategy, but it sure is enticing for fantasy purposes.

Syndergaard Due Back This Friday

Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard looked sharp in a minor league rehab outing Sunday at Low-A Brooklyn, yielding just two hits and a walk over five innings of one-run ball while striking out seven. Assuming he makes it through a bullpen session in front of Mets coaches and trainers on Wednesday without issue, “Thor” will be activated off the disabled list to start Friday night against the Nationals.

Syndergaard was placed on the disabled list back in late May after being diagnosed with a strained ligament in his right index finger, and the Mets have gone 11-28 in his absence.

The 25-year-old stands 4-1 with a 3.06 ERA and 76/13 K/BB ratio in 64 2/3 innings this season.

If his health cooperates, Syndergaard should be a fantasy ace over the final two-and-a-half months.

National League Quick Hits: Padres rookie left-hander Eric Lauer worked 8 2/3 innings of one-run ball on Tuesday night against the Dodgers and boasts a 2.33 ERA over his last eight starts … Joey Votto had a three-run double as part of the Reds' seven-run, ninth-inning rally Tuesday against the Indians … Christian Yelich went 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI in the Brewers' takedown of the Marlins on Tuesday … Dodgers activated starter Kenta Maeda from the paternity leave list … Tommy Pham was scratched from the Cardinals’ lineup Tuesday against the White Sox due to a lingering left ankle contusion … Walker Buehler (ribs) will return to the Dodgers' rotation on Friday against the Angels … Maikel Franco had a three-run homer and an RBI single Tuesday in the Phillies' defeat of the Mets … Jeremy Hellickson made it through five scoreless frames Tuesday in the Nationals’ win over the Pirates … Stephen Strasburg (shoulder) allowed one run over 3 1/3 innings Tuesday in a rehab start with High-A Potomac … Jay Bruce will be shut down for the next eight days due to ongoing hip discomfort … Julio Teheran tossed 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball but settled for a no-decision Tuesday against the Blue Jays … Daniel Murphy went 4-for-4 at the dish and scored a run Tuesday in Pittsburgh … Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that Joe Panik (groin) will likely miss the next three weeks … Enyel De Los Santos picked up a win in his major league debut after allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings Tuesday against the Mets … Dexter Fowler launched a grand slam Tuesday in the Cardinals' blowout victory over the White Sox … Asdrubal Cabrera aggravated a previously hyperextended left elbow on Tuesday night, but he could be in the Mets’ starting lineup Wednesday … Dodgers setup man Pedro Baez (biceps) could begin a minor league rehab assignment during the All-Star break … Joe Musgrove notched a season-high nine strikeouts but lasted just five innings Tuesday in his return from the disabled list, yielding two runs in a loss to the Nationals … Sandy Alcantara (arm) began a throwing program on Tuesday … Jordan Lyles (elbow) will throw another bullpen session on Wednesday … Lewis Brinson (hip) is still days away from resuming baseball activities … Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Tuesday that Sean Rodriguez (quad) will continue his rehab assignment for "a few more days” … Cardinals setup man Luke Gregerson (knee, shoulder) appears likely to come off the disabled list this week … Brent Suter (forearm) is expecting to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday on Thursday … Padres recalled outfielder Franmil Reyes from Triple-A El Paso … Tony Cingrani's rehabilitation from a left shoulder strain has slowed … Padres right-hander Bryan Mitchell (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday for the first time since landing on the disabled list … Phillies designated left-hander Hoby Milner for assignment.

American League Quick Hits: Mariners placed starter Felix Hernandez on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to July 7, with back soreness … Alex Bregman homered in the first and seventh innings and brought in the winning run in the 11th as the Astros edged the A's on Tuesday … Trevor Bauer was denied a victory after blanking the Reds for eight innings and striking out 12 on Tuesday … Gary Sanchez (groin) took on-field batting practice on Tuesday … Blue Jays 3B prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is expected to be promoted to Triple-A Buffalo after returning from his strained left patellar tendon … Josh Donaldson (calf) has resumed baseball activities … Manny Machado homered twice and drove in three runs in the Orioles' win over the Yankees on Tuesday … Gleyber Torres (hip) hit off a tee on Tuesday … Garrett Richards left his start Tuesday night against the Mariners with irritation in his right forearm and will undergo an MRI on Wednesday … White Sox placed outfielder Avisail Garcia on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to July 9, with a strained right hamstring … Astros placed starter Gerrit Cole on the bereavement list … Roberto Osuna (suspension) is slated to begin a minor league rehab assignment this week with the Blue Jays’ affiliate in the Gulf Coast League … Jose Ramirez went 2-for-4 and hit his 25th homer Tuesday night against the Reds … Lonnie Chisenhall has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 strain of his left calf and will miss the next 8-10 weeks … Wilson Ramos hit a three-run homer Tuesday to lead the Rays past the Tigers … Greg Bird cranked a three-run homer and had four RBI in total Tuesday in Baltimore … Christian Vazquez underwent successful surgery on his fractured right pinkie finger on Tuesday … Adalberto Mondesi delivered a three-run homer and an RBI single as the Royals busted out for nine runs in a win over the Twins on Tuesday … Stephen Piscotty homered for a fourth consecutive game Tuesday in the A’s extra-innings loss to the Astros … Ryan Tepera (elbow) threw about 20 pitches in a bullpen session on Tuesday … Dustin Pedroia (knee) will head to Arizona to resume his rehab with his personal offseason trainer … Athletics optioned starter Frankie Montas to Triple-A Nashville … Marwin Gonzalez is considered day-to-day with a bruised left wrist and elbow … Ian Kennedy made an early exit from his start Tuesday night against the Twins due to a recurrence of left oblique tightness … Ervin Santana (finger) will continue his minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Chattanooga … Jose Iglesias exited Tuesday night’s game against the Rays with a left hand contusion … Jaime Garcia (shoulder) is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start Thursday with High-A Dunedin … Aaron Sanchez (finger) is expected to resume throwing off a mound within the next several days … Red Sox infielder Marco Hernandez underwent season-ending surgery on his left shoulder on Tuesday … White Sox OF prospect Micker Adolfo will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery.