Nationals injured All-Star pitcher to undergo further testing

The Nationals are coping with a worrisome state of affairs concerning one in all their prime pitchers. Josiah Gray advised reporters that he got here out of his most up-to-date rehab begin with elbow discomfort and fatigue, 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, as relayed by The Post’s Spencer Nusbaum.

Grey has been on the injured record for the reason that second week of the season. He went on the shelf on April 9 with what the group known as a forearm pressure. The appropriate-hander has missed almost three months however seemed to be nearing a return. He started a rehab task on June 9 and has made 5 begins within the minors in current weeks. Grey was possible ticketed for one ultimate rehab outing subsequent weekend earlier than rejoining the MLB rotation.

These plans are on maintain because the Nats hope for encouraging check outcomes. Even when testing doesn’t reveal any type of structural injury, 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 group 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 from 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 price however have typically proven respectable management and performed a strong job preserving the ball on the bottom.

MacKenzie Gore has turned in a 3.47 ERA with a powerful 27.2% strikeout price in one of the best 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, particularly, has proven surprisingly robust management after scuffling with 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 skill by means of his first 5 MLB begins.

Corbin is on his option 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 means of the primary couple of 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 towards 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 approach into shopping for. They’re amid 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.