Sipp was placed on release waivers Monday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
This move comes after Sipp cleared outright waivers and declined a minor-league assignment. Assuming the lefty isn't claimed on release waivers by the end of the week, he'll head to free agency.
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Nationals' Tony Sipp: DFA'd by Washington
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Sipp was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
Sipp has struggled through 36 appearances this season for the Nationals, posting a 4.71 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with an 18:9 K:BB over 21 innings, and the acquisition of Roenis Elias removed the need for his services from the port side. He'll head to waivers following this latest roster move.
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Nationals' Tony Sipp: Snags eighth hold
Rotowire
Sipp struck out the only batter he faced to record his eighth hold of the season in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Rockies.
He remains the top LOOGY in the Nats bullpen, having thrown only 19 innings across 33 appearances this season. Sipp's overall numbers (3.79 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 7.6 K/9), and his limited role keep him off the fantasy radar even in deep formats.
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Nationals' Tony Sipp: Pitching better of late
Rotowire
Sipp has a 4.70 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB through 15.1 innings over 27 appearances this season, collecting one win and seven holds.
The veteran LOOGY doesn't have great numbers, but he's overcome a shaky start to 2019. Sipp has been charged with runs in only two of his last 19 games, but the stretch has had a minimal impact on his ratios as 14 of those appearances lasted less than an inning. The role also limits his fantasy value, but he'll continue to fill a key late-inning role in the Nats bullpen.
The Nationals activated Sipp (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Sipp was sidelined for two weeks with the oblique strain, but proved his health by tossing a scoreless frame for High-A Potomac over the weekend. Prior to landing on the IL earlier this month, Sipp hadn't found much success with the Nationals, giving up six runs on nine hits and four walks in nine innings.
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Nationals' Tony Sipp: Could be activated Monday
Rotowire
Sipp (oblique) could be activated to begin the Nationals' series Monday against the Mets, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.
Sipp threw an inning Saturday night at High-A Potomac and apparently had no setbacks. As a result, he could be activated as early as Monday. Sipp struggled in the early portion of the season, recording a 6.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across nine innings.
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Nationals' Tony Sipp: Set for rehab assignment
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Sipp (oblique) will make a minor-league rehab appearance Saturday at High-A Potomac, Sam Fortier of The Washington Post reports.
Sipp was eligible to be activated off the 10-day injured list Friday but will need at least a few more days before rejoining the Nationals. The 35-year-old will be re-evaluated following Saturday's outing, so he could return to the majors soon if all goes well.
Sipp was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a strained oblique, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.
The southpaw reliever has a 6.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB in nine innings out of the big-league bullpen. Erick Fedde was summoned from Double-A to take Sipp's place in the bullpen.
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Nationals' Tony Sipp: Escapes jam in loss
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Sipp gave up a hit and walked two in two-thirds of an inning but didn't allow a run during Monday's 5-3 loss to the Brewers.
The southpaw was able to escape a jam of his own making that also featured a throwing error on a pickoff attempt and a wild pitch. Sipp has now delivered nine straight scoreless appearances, although only two of them lasted a full inning. His 6.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP are big improvements over the marks he had a couple of weeks ago, and his six holds lead the Nats' bullpen.
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Nationals' Tony Sipp: Returns to action Friday
Rotowire
Sipp (shoulder) allowed two runs on two hits over one-third of an inning during Friday's loss to the Pirates.
Sipp exited Wednesday's game with left shoulder stiffness but was apparently good to go after the off day Thursday. The 35-year-old threw a complete inning during his first outing of the season, but has recorded one or zero outs in each of his last seven outings.
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Nationals' Tony Sipp: Dealing with shoulder stiffness
Rotowire
Sipp was pulled from Wednesday's game against the Phillies with left shoulder stiffness, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Sipp threw only four pitches and retired the only batter he faced before being removed. The 35-year-old will take Thursday to rest up before being reevaluated Friday.
Sipp struck out the only batter he faced in Thursday's win over the Mets to record his third hold of the season.
The veteran lefty has had some struggles in the early going along with the rest of the Nats' bullpen, posting a 13.50 ERA and 2.00 WHIP through two innings spread over four appearances, but his 3:1 K:BB is solid. Sipp is settling in as the top LOOGY at manager Dave Martinez's disposal, and in a division that includes Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman and Robinson Cano -- his strikeout victim Thursday -- that could lead to frequent usage. Sipp's career high in holds is 24, set back in 2011 with Cleveland, but he could approach that number again with Washington.
Sipp will throw another live batting practice session Saturday, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.
The veteran southpaw faced live hitters for the first time this spring Thursday and felt good, and while Sipp probably doesn't have enough time left on the Grapefruit League calendar to see any actual game action, he's still confident he'll be ready for Opening Day. "Every batter counts," Sipp said prior to Friday night's game against the Marlins. "And I've been around enough where I'm not going off the type of caliber of the hitter. I can look at my stuff and how it plays. ... It's not so much who I am facing, but it's being fair with myself, and seeing if I have the same stuff that I'm used to to start the season with." He's expected to fill a LOOGY role in the Nats' bullpen this season.
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Nationals' Tony Sipp: Could be ready for Opening Day
Rotowire
Sipp could be ready for Opening Day, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Sipp, who signed with the Nationals in mid-March, is slightly behind other pitchers, though he may still have enough time to get up to speed before the start of the season. The southpaw felt good after a 15-pitch bullpen session Thursday, and he's expected to pitch in a minor-league game over the weekend. Once Sipp is ready to go, he'll likely be deployed as a lefty specialist.
