Right-hander Tony Armas Jr. is to have arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder Wednesday.
Armas, 7-7 with a 4.97 ERA, last pitched Sept. 1, giving up seven runs in four innings against Atlanta, and then was dropped from the rotation. He went 0-2 with a 9.75 ERA in his final three starts.
The pitcher appeared in a total of just 21 games the previous two years because of major shoulder surgery in May 2003.
"His arm wasn't right a lot of the season. Hopefully he can get this corrected once and for all. It's been three years now," Nationals manager Frank Robinson said Friday.
Armas To Have Shoulder Surgery On Wednesday