WASHINGTON -- The Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher James Bourque from Double-A Harrisburg and optioned right-handed pitcher Joe Ross to Triple-A Fresno on Saturday. The moves are the latest attempt to improve a bullpen that entered play Saturday with a Major League-worst 7.09 ERA.

Bourque, 25, has impressed since he transitioned to a full-time reliever in 2018. In 14 appearances out of Harrisburg¡¯s bullpen this season, Bourque has a 3-0 record with six saves and a 1.33 ERA with 33 strikeouts against just six walks. This is the first Major League promotion for the Nationals¡¯ 14th-round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft.

¡°Get that phone call, you¡¯re kind of shaking a little bit,¡± said Bourque, who received the news late Friday night from Harrisburg manager Matthew LeCroy. ¡°You think you know it¡¯s coming, and you hear it and you¡¯re like, 'Wow, alright.¡¯ I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s really hit me yet. ... It¡¯s been a whirlwind 12 hours.¡±

Over his last nine outings prior to his promotion, Bourque struck out 22 batters against just two walks. That¡¯s the type of production the Nationals' fluid bullpen desperately needs.

¡°We bring these guys up and we feel they¡¯re ready and they can help, so he¡¯s going to get an opportunity,¡± said manager Dave Martinez.

Ross pitched out of the bullpen this year partly out of necessity, but the one-time starter struggled in his new role with a 9.22 ERA in 16 appearances.

The Nationals intend to stretch out Ross at Fresno, leaving open the possibility that he¡¯ll be recalled as a starter down the line. Starters Anibal Sanchez and Jeremy Hellickson are both on the injured list, but Martinez said the plan with Ross is to keep the long-term in mind.

According to Martinez, Ross¡¯ inconsistency this season can be attributed in part to the 26-year-old¡¯s struggles with some of his secondary pitches. The Nationals remain confident the righty can return to the form he displayed before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2017.

¡°We¡¯re not giving up on Joe, that¡¯s for sure,¡± Martinez said. ¡°I think this gives him an opportunity to just go out there and get comfortable, stretch him out and really hone in on [his secondary pitches]. At one point, he had an unbelievable slider. Let¡¯s see if we can get his slider back a little bit and get his changeup back against left-handed hitters. I think his changeup needs to be more effective.¡±

Worth noting

? Sanchez continues to progress from his left hamstring injury. Martinez said that the righty felt no ill-effects after throwing 41 pitches in a simulated game on Friday. He is scheduled to throw a side session on Sunday. Martinez added that Sanchez will most likely make one rehab start before returning to the Nationals' rotation.

¡°I want to make sure that when he goes out, he throws a good, hopefully, 75 pitches and we¡¯ll go from there,¡± Martinez said.

? The Nationals recalled outfielder Andrew Stevenson from a rehab assignment and optioned him to Triple-A Fresno.