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The Nationals will call up catcher Carlos Maldonado from Triple-A Syracuse to replace Ivan Rodriguez, who was put on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.
According to a club source, Maldonado flew to San Francisco last night; he will be officially added to the major league roster before the team's game with the Giants on Tuesday. Maldonado, 31, has played 21 games in a pair of call-ups with the Pirates in 2006 and 2007. He has effectively been Stephen Strasburg's personal catcher at Syracuse; Devin Ivany will catch Strasburg in his start tonight.
Maldonado could wind up catching Strasburg in his big league debut; he's expected to stay with the team until Rodriguez returns from the disabled list on June 8, and if Strasburg debuts on June 4 as expected, Maldonado could get the call.
The Nationals will have to add Maldonado to their 40-man roster, and will likely do so by putting Chris Coste on the 60-day disabled list; MLB.com reported Coste had Tommy John surgery earlier this year and is out for the season.
