The Washington Nationals acquired left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski from the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations and infielder Max Schrock on Thursday to help a flailing bullpen.
Rzepczynski has a 3.00 ERA this season, but also reverse splits. Though his career splits show a .225 batting average against versus lefties and .276 versus righties. This season, those numbers are close to reversed: right-handers are hitting .226 against him and left-handers .296.
His problem this season has been walking people. Rzepczynski is averaging a career high six walks per nine innings.
The Nationals needed more left-handed pitching in the bullpen following a dramatic shift among that group which was successful earlier in the season.