Nationals promote top prospect Giolito

Baseball's No. 1 prospect is taking the game's biggest stage.

The Washington Nationals announced Monday that Lucas Giolito will be promoted and make his Major League debut Tuesday against the Mets.

Giolito's debut at Nationals Park comes in the wake of Washington ace Stephen Strasburg landing on the disabled list, a move that has forced Nationals manager Dusty Baker to fill some holes in the rotation. Right-hander Rafael Martin was called up earlier from Triple-A after Baker indicated Joe Ross would start on Monday. Giolito and No. 9 prospect Austin Voth figured to be the top two candidates to come up for Tuesday's start.

Baker made his decision Monday afternoon, the team said.

"Nationals manager Dusty Baker said in his daily meeting with the media that [Lucas Giolito] will start for the Nats tomorrow vs. the Mets," the team tweeted around 3:30 p.m. ET.

Giolito, 21, has never pitched above Double-A. He's 5-3 with a 3.17 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 71 innings this season at Double-A Harrisburg. Since May 25, the righty has gone six or more innings in four out of his last six outings.

Giolito was the Nationals' first-round pick in 2012 and has dazzled in the Minors, going 24-13 with a 2.74 career ERA in 67 outings over parts of five seasons. Last year the 6-foot-6 starter went 7-7 with a 3.15 ERA over 21 games in his first season with more than 100 innings pitched.

Washington invited its top arm to Spring Training earlier this year, and the righty did not disappoint, going 1-0 with nine strikeouts and three walks in 6 2/3 innings over four outings.

Giolito's Minor League career has been studded with awards and honors -- he was an MiLB.com Nationals Organization All-Star in 2014 and 2015, earning All-Star Futures Game honors in both of those seasons as well. He was named the South Atlantic League's Most Outstanding Pitcher and Most Outstanding Major League Prospect in 2014 and has taken home four Pitcher of the Week nods since 2014.