RHP Rafael Martin was designated for assignment. Martin was 1-1 with a 5.18 ERA in 20 games with Triple-A Syracuse.

RHP Rafael Martin was designated for assignment, president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo announced on Monday. The 33-year-old Martin was used out of the bullpen this season by the Nationals. He had a 2-0 record with a 4.50 ERA in 21 career games as a reliever with Washington.

RHP Rafael Martin was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. This is the second trip to the majors this season for Martin, who spent one day with the club in June and threw a scoreless inning against the Mets in his lone appearance. He is expected to pitch in low-leverage situations down the stretch. Martin served as the closer for Syracuse this season, during which he went 2-4 with a 4.56 ERA and 22 saves in 50 games.

RHP Rafael Martin was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. This is the second trip to the majors this season for Martin, who spent one day with the club in June and threw a scoreless inning against the Mets in his lone appearance. He is expected to pitch in low-leverage situations down the stretch. Martin served as the closer for Syracuse this season, during which he went 2-4 with a 4.56 ERA and 22 saves in 50 games.

RHP Rafael Martin was sent back to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for RHP Lucas Giolito, who was called up from Double-A Harrisburg to make his big league debut on Tuesday. Martin pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Monday as the Nationals won 11-4.

RHP Rafael Martin, who was called up Monday, was sent back to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.

RHP Rafael Martin (1-3, 4.40 with Triple-A Syracuse) was recalled on Monday after RHP Stephen Strasburg went on the disabled list Sunday.

Martin was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old reliever posted a 3.21 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 56 innings at Triple-A, but was much less effective in a brief big league stint earlier this season. Look for him to pitch in low-leverage spots.

Martin was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, MASN's Dan Kolko reports.

Martin was sent down to make room for A.J. Cole, who is replacing Max Scherzer (thumb) as the starter for Tuesday's game against the Braves. While he's given up five earned runs in five innings this season, Martin also owns an impressive K:BB ratio (11:2) that hints at serious potential. He was dominant with Triple-A Syracuse last season, and he could earn a late-inning role with the Nationals before the end of 2015.

Martin struck out the side on Wednesday in an inning of work, but got tagged with his first run allowed on a Matt Adams solo shot.

Eight of his nine outs in the majors leagues have come via strikeout, and while Martin's not likely to work into the Nationals' saves mix any time soon, fantasy owners in leagues where high-K relievers have value may want to scoop him up.

Martin had an eye-popping major league debut on Wednesday, tossing two shutout innings and striking out five of the seven batters he faced.

Mookie Betts flied out and Dustin Pedroia managed a single to begin the seventh, but after that it was five straight K's for the 30-year-old rookie. Martin doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he gets good movement on his pitches and pounds the strike zone, and if he keeps ringing up batters he could quickly work his way into a high-leverage role.

Martin was called up from Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.

The 30-year-old Martin has never pitched in the major leagues, but he was fantastic in 25 appearances out of the bullpen for Triple-A Syracuse last season, posting a 0.80 ERA, 1.40 FIP, 11.2 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 over 33.2 innings. He'll replace left-hander Xavier Cedeno, who has already been credited with two blown saves this season. Despite posting closer-type numbers at the Triple-A level, Martin will likely work as a middle reliever for the Nationals.