RHP A.J. Cole (1-2, 4.71) will make his sixth start of the season. He received no decision in his last start when he allowed three runs on nine hits in five innings against the Phillies. Cole is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA against teams from the N.L. East. He has never faced the Marlins.

RHP A.J. Cole allowed three runs in five innings Tuesday against the Mets. Cole did not figure in the decision, and he is still looking for first win at Nationals Park.

RHP A.J. Cole will start on Tuesday against the New York Mets. Cole is 1-2 with a 4.56 ERA this year in four starts. He beats the Mets 4-1 in New York on Sept. 2.

RHP A.J. Cole started Thursday against the Phillies and allowed four runs in five innings. It was only the seventh outing of his career. "The first go-round, if they have control, is to his advantage," manager Dusty Baker said before the game. "What I want to see is the second and third time around, if they've made adjustments and if he's going to make adjustments. Like I told you before, I don't like facing guys in September because you don't know 'em. You can watch video all you want to, but until you see with the naked eye, up close and personal, you really don't know 'em, so it's to his advantage the first go-round. I just hope he keeps doing what he's been doing -- throwing quality strikes. And then I'll hold judgment until he's faced a team two or three times."

RHP A.J. Cole is slated to start on Thursday against the Phillies. He is 1-1 with a 3.86 in three starts this year for the Nationals after spending most of the season at Triple-A Syracuse.

RHP A.J. Cole will make his third start of the season Friday against the Mets in Citi Field. The rookie was saddled with a no-decision his last time out, against Colorado, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing three runs on four hits while striking out four and walking three. He has never faced the Mets.

RHP A.J. Cole allowed four hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings Saturday and did not figure in the decision. He threw a wild pitch on an intentional walk to allow a run to score. It was the second start of the season and the third of MLB career.

RHP A.J. Cole makes his second start of the year and third of his career Saturday against the Rockies. He started on Monday in Baltimore and allowed four runs and two homers in seven innings in a loss.

RHP A.J. Cole will "probably" start Saturday for the Nationals, manager Dusty Baker said. Cole made his season debut Monday against the Orioles and took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits over seven innings. "He pitched a heck of a game," Baker said. "He had great poise, great command against a very good offense."

RHP A.J. Cole was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse and started Monday night's 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in place of Stephen Strasburg. Cole (0-1) allowed four runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked two. "He did more than save our bullpen, he threw a heckuva game," manager Dusty Baker said. "Great poise and great command against a very good offense." The 24-year-old Cole was 8-8 with a 4.26 ERA in 22 starts for Triple-A Syracuse this year.

RHP A.J. Cole was promoted from Triple-A Syracuse to start the Washington Nationals' Monday game against the Baltimore Orioles. Cole, 24, is 8-8 with a 4.26 ERA in 22 starts for Syracuse this season. He has a 5.79 ERA in three appearances (one start) for the Nationals, all recorded last season.

The Washington Nationals placed right-hander Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with right elbow soreness.Strasburg, 28, was scratched from his start Monday night against the Baltimore Orioles.Strasburg has struggled in his last three starts. He gave up seven runs in the first inning last Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies and was pulled in the second inning. In his last three starts, Strasburg posted a 14.66 ERA and allowed 24 hits in 19 2/3 innings.Strasburg is 15-4 with a 3.59 ERA in 23 starts this season. His second stint on the disabled list this season is retroactive to Aug. 21.Strasburg missed 17 games with an upper back strain, from June 16-July 3.Right-hander A.J. Cole was promoted from Triple-A Syracuse to start Monday night against the Orioles.Cole, 24, is 8-8 with a 4.26 ERA in 22 starts for Syracuse this season. He has a 5.79 ERA in three appearances (one start) for the Nationals, all recorded last season.

RHP A.J. Cole was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday to give the Nationals as extra arm in the bullpen. He was 8-8 with 4.26 ERA and two complete games in 22 starts for Syracuse, striking out 109 and walking 35 in 124 2/3 innings. Cole appeared in three games for Washington last year, making one start and picking up a save.

RHP A.J. Cole was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. He made a start and picked up a save in three games last year.

Cole was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday.

Cole saw his first major league action earlier in the season, allowing six runs over 9.1 innings in three outing and one start. Despite the poor showing, the 23-year-old remains one of the Nationals' top prospects, and will get another shot at it beginning Thursday. Although his role hasn't been officially denoted, he'll likely serve out of the bullpen for the Nationals.

Cole (groin) will start for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.

Cole missed a couple of starts but didn't need an extended absence. He'll now be available if the Nationals need a spot starter, though his poor season at Triple-A Syracuse won't help his cause.

Cole was removed from Monday's start with Triple-A Syracuse because of groin tightness, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.

Cole's having an unimpressive season for Triple-A Syracuse, with a 4.40 ERA and 32:19 K:BB ratio through 47 innings. He made a spot start for the Nationals earlier this year, but the Nationals seemingly prefer Taylor Roark or Taylor Jordan for that role.

Cole has been sent back to Triple-A to clear space on the roster for Joe Ross, CSN Washington's Chase Hughes reports.

He was spotted saying his goodbyes in the clubhouse Saturday morning. Cole could return to the Nats as a spot starter or long reliever later this season, but it appears as though Ross and Tanner Roark are ahead of him in the pecking order to fill in as regulars in the rotation at the present time with Doug Fister and Stephen Strasburg on the disabled list.

Cole was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday.

While the open date in the Nationals' rotation is Saturday, Cole last pitched May 29 with Syracuse, so he could theoretically slot in Thursday or Friday as well and push the rest of the starters back a day. He only pitched 3.1 innings in his last outing, and has been used out of the bullpen twice this year with the Nationals, so Cole should not be expected to pitch very deep in his first start. Despite having a 5.79 ERA in 9.1 innings with the Nationals this year, Cole still profiles as a solid No. 4 starter in time. With Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister on the DL, Cole could stick in the rotation for an extended period of time this go round.

Cole was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.

Cole tossed 4.1 innings Saturday in relief of the ineffective Stephen Strasburg, so he was likely going to be unavailable out of the bullpen Sunday anyway. Instead, the team will recalled another right-handed reliever, Taylor Jordan, to provide bullpen depth.