The Nationals are coping with a worrisome scenario relating to one in every of their prime pitchers. Josiah Grey advised reporters that he got here out of his most up-to-date rehab begin with elbow discomfort and fatigue (X hyperlink by way of Andrew Golden of the Washington Submit). He’ll head for added testing. Supervisor Dave Martinez indicated they’ll maintain off on that imaging till across the All-Star Break (relayed on X by The Submit’s Spencer Nusbaum).
Grey has been on the injured checklist for the reason that second week of the season. He went on the shelf on April 9 with what the workforce referred to as a forearm pressure. The proper-hander has missed almost three months however gave the impression to be nearing a return. He’d begun a rehab task on June 9 and has made 5 begins within the minors in latest weeks. Grey was doubtless ticketed for one last rehab outing subsequent weekend earlier than rejoining the MLB rotation.
These plans are on maintain because the Nats hope for encouraging take a look at outcomes. Even when testing doesn’t reveal any type of structural harm, the membership will assuredly be very cautious in constructing Grey’s throwing program again up. Grey likened the discomfort to the soreness he initially felt in April, elevating the potential of one other prolonged absence.
This clearly hasn’t been the specified follow-up to the righty’s first All-Star season. Grey turned in a 3.91 earned run common whereas logging 159 innings (second on the workforce behind Patrick Corbin’s 180 frames) a yr in the past. Whereas Grey’s manufacturing tailed off down the stretch, it was a typically encouraging season for the previous prime prospect.
The Nats have patched collectively a fairly productive rotation regardless of absences to each Grey and Trevor Williams, who hasn’t pitched in over a month due to a muscle pressure in his forearm. Washington ranks twelfth with a 3.90 ERA from its starters. They’re within the backside third of the league with a 21.3% strikeout fee however have typically proven respectable management and performed a stable job preserving the ball on the bottom.
MacKenzie Gore has turned in a 3.47 ERA with a robust 27.2% strikeout fee in the most effective season of his younger profession. Jake Irvin and rookie Mitchell Parker have every managed an earned run common within the low-3.00s regardless of middling strikeout numbers. Parker, specifically, has proven surprisingly robust management after combating walks all through his minor league days. DJ Herz, who stepped into the rotation since Williams went down, has been inconsistent however has flashed bat-missing capability by his first 5 MLB begins.
Corbin is on his strategy to his fourth consecutive season permitting greater than 5 earned runs per 9. The veteran southpaw was higher in June than he’d been by the primary couple months, although he nonetheless posted a 4.71 ERA in 28 2/3 innings. His rotation spot may need been in jeopardy if Grey had been wholesome, however he figures to get an extended leash after the latter’s setback.
The Nationals have dropped seven of their final 10 and fallen in the direction of the again of the group of mid-level groups within the Nationwide League. They’re 39-45, tied with the Reds and narrowly forward of the Cubs however behind 5 groups for the NL’s final Wild Card spot.
Whereas it doesn’t appear they’ll put themselves in place to amass impactful rotation assist on the deadline, they’ll no less than have the chance to play their means into shopping for. They’re amidst a three-game sequence with the Mets. After that, they’ll tackle the Cardinals, Mets, Brewers, Reds, Padres and St. Louis once more earlier than kicking off a set with the D-Backs heading into the deadline. Aside from Milwaukee, all these groups are jumbled within the Wild Card combine.
