TANNER RAINEY NEWS

Picks up seventh save Rainey gave up a solo home run among two hits while striking out two in the ninth inning Saturday to record his seventh save of the season in a 10-8 win over the Reds.

Impact Handed a three-run lead after the Nationals' offense came to life in the final frames, Rainey needed the cushion after he served up a solo shot to Brandon Drury. It was the first homer Rainey has allowed this season, and the right-hander will take a 2.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB through 17.1 innings into his next appearance.

JUNE 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Soto hits 2 homers, Nationals rally to be beat Reds 10-8

Juan Soto hit a three-run homer and a solo shot, and Maikel Franco and Luis Garcia drove in ninth-inning runs to rally the Washington Nationals to a 10-8 win over the Cincinnati Re...

JUNE 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thomas hits 3 HRs, Nats go deep 5 times in 8-5 win over Reds

Lane Thomas had a three-homer game for the first time in his career, and Nelson Cruz and Juan Soto also went deep, leading the Washington Nationals to an 8-5 win over the Cincinnat...

JUNE 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Secures fifth save Rainey retired all five batters he faced in Sunday's win over Colorado. He struck out three and earned a save.

Impact The 29-year-old entered the game with one out in the eighth inning after Kyle Finnegan allowed a pair of runs in the frame. Rainey needed just 18 pitches (16 strikes) to finish off the game and earn his fifth save of the year. Rainey lowered his season ERA to 2.35, and he's currently on a 4.2-inning scoreless streak after he was tagged with six runs (four earned) in his previous three appearances.

MAY 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Soto snaps homer drought, Nationals hold off Rockies 6-5

Juan Soto snapped a 15-game home run drought with a two-run shot, Tanner Rainey got the final five outs and the Washington Nationals held off the Colorado Rockies 6-5

MAY 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Collects fourth save Rainey gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his fourth save of the season in a 1-0 win over the Dodgers.

Impact It wasn't the sharpest outing, as Rainey needed 19 pitches (10 strikes) to work his way through the bottom of the Los Angeles order, but he was able to get the job done and pick up his first save since April 19 after blowing his first two chances in May. The right-hander will carry a 2.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB through 12.2 innings into his next appearance.

MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals end skid against Dodgers, win 1-0 in series finale

Erik Fedde and three relievers combined on a six-hitter, César Hernández had an RBI single and the Washington Nationals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 to avoid a series sweep

MAY 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Records win after blown save Rainey (1-1) was charged with his second blown save of the season but picked up the win in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning victory over the Marlins, giving up a run on a hit and two w...

Impact With the Nationals ahead 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Rainey got the call but quickly loaded the bases with one out before a Jazz Chisholm sacrifice fly tied the game. Rainey has now blown his last two save opportunities and given up runs in three straight appearances after maintaining a 0.00 ERA through his first eight games. On the season, the right-hander now sports a 3.38 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB through 10.2 innings, and if he continues to struggle, it could open the door for someone like Kyle Finnegan to get a look in the closer role.

MAY 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ruiz's 10th-inning RBI double lifts Nationals over Marlins

Keibert Ruiz had three hits, including a go-ahead double in the 10th inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 5-4

MAY 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Takes loss, blows save Sunday Rainey (0-1) blew the save and took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning in a 5-4 defeat Sunday against the Angels.

Impact Rainey entered the game with a two-run lead and struck out the first batter he faced. After a walk and a single, he punched out Mike Trout. Shohei Ohtani then smacked a two-run double off the wall to tie it and was plated on a walk-off single by Anthony Rendon. Rainey had been excellent in his first eight appearances, converting all three of his save opportunities and holding opponents scoreless. The 29-year-old is the lone National to record a save and his status as closer should not change despite this hiccup.

MAY 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ohtani, Rendon rally Angels past Nationals 5-4 in 9th

Shohei Ohtani hit a tying, two-run double in the ninth inning, Anthony Rendon followed with a game-ending single against his former team and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Washing...

MAY 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Secures third save Rainey collected his third save of the season in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out one in a score...

Impact Called upon to protect a 1-0 lead, Rainey managed to load the bases with nobody out before escaping the jam he'd created. The right-hander has a 0.00 ERA and 4:1 K:BB through four innings to begin the season and has yet to blow a save chance, but Rainey has a long way to go before he should be considered reliable as the Nationals' closer.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

'Hallelujah!' Adon helps Nats sweep doubleheader vs. D-backs

Joan Adon became the first Nationals starter to finish six innings in 2022, throwing 6 1/3 scoreless to help Washington beat the punchless Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0 and sweep a doub...

APRIL 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Notches second save Rainey gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to record his second save of the season in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Atlanta.

Impact The right-hander did give up a two-out single to Austin Riley to make things interesting, but Rainey is two-for-two in save chances to begin the season. As long as he keeps getting the job done, Nationals manager Dave Martinez will keep turning to him in the ninth, but Rainey still has a little more work to do before he can be considered the team's true closer.

APRIL 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gray allows only 1 hit as Nationals beat Fried, Braves 3-1

Josiah Gray allowed one hit in five scoreless innings, and the Washington Nationals beat Max Fried and the Atlanta Braves 3-1

APRIL 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nails down first save of 2022 Rainey worked around a hit to throw a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save Sunday against the Mets.

Impact Manager Dave Martinez didn't name a closer coming into the season, but he did tell MASN Sports back in mid-March that he would "love" for Rainey to show he's ready to close. The early returns are promising. Kyle Finnegan worked the eighth inning Sunday, setting up the save chance for Rainey.

APRIL 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cruz homers, keys Nats over Mets 4-2 with 8th-inning hit

Nelson Cruz hit his 450th home run and added a tiebreaking two-run single in three-run eighth inning that lifted the Washington Nationals over the Mets 4-2 and prevented New York f...

APRIL 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reaches deal with Washington Rainey and the Nationals agreed to terms Tuesday on a one-year contract to avoid arbitration, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Rainey endured a turbulent 2021 campaign in which he struggled from both a performance and health standpoint, but he at least closed the season on a high note. Following a call-up from Triple-A Rochester for the final two weeks, Rainey made six appearances out of the bullpen and turned in a 1.41 FIP over that stretch while notching two saves. Rainey's strong finish to the season along with an impressive 20.1-inning sample in 2020 looks like it'll be enough to keep him in the closer mix heading into 2022, as manager Dave Martinez said early in spring training that he was hopeful the right-hander would seize hold of the job. The skipper may not formally name a closer heading into Opening Day, but Rainey should be in the mix for the gig if he turns in a productive spring.

MARCH 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

In closer mix Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that he would "love" for Rainey to cement himself as the Nationals' closer coming out of spring training, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports...

Impact Martinez's comments can't be taken as evidence that Rainey is penciled in as the team's ninth-inning man, but the 29-year-old's strong finish to an otherwise turbulent 2021 season appears to make him the early frontrunner for the job. In addition to sustaining a collarbone injury last spring, testing positive for COVID-19 in May, and then suffering a right tibia stress reaction in late June, Rainey struggled mightily when available for the first four months of the season with a 7.62 ERA while walking 16.5 percent of the batters. However, upon returning in mid-September from a one-month stint at Triple-A, Rainey recaptured the strong form he displayed in 2020, submitting a 29.2 K-BB% and holding hitters to a .150 average while notching a pair of saves over five appearances. Though the late-season sample was a small one, it might be enough to position Rainey atop the depth chart in a bullpen that's mostly lacking in upside arms.

MARCH 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Adon expected to start for Washington against Boston

The Red Sox will start Chris Sale on Sunday while the Nationals are expected to counter with Joan Adon

OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Red Sox rally in 9th, on brink of clinching wild-card berth

Christian Vázquez tripled home the tiebreaking run in the ninth inning and the Boston Red Sox moved to the brink of a postseason berth with a 5-3 win over the Washington Nationals

OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Escapes with third save Rainey allowed one run on a hit and a walk in one inning Sunday and recorded a save against Colorado.

Impact Rainey gave up a two-out RBI double to C.J. Cron but escaped the threat to finish off the 5-4 win. He's converted his last two save chances, making him 3-for-6 on the year. Rainey has produced a 6.75 ERA and 39:23 K:BB through 30.2 frames.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gray gets 2nd major league win, Nationals beat Rockies 5-4

Josiah Gray pitched into the sixth inning to earn his second career win, and the Washington Nationals beat the Colorado Rockies 5-4

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Soto homers twice, boosts average to .325, Nats beat Reds

National League batting leader Juan Soto homered in consecutive innings, and the Washington Nationals pushed the Cincinnati Reds further from playoff contention with a 3-2 win in t...

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Picks up second save Rainey tossed a perfect two-thirds of an inning to earn the save in Wednesday's win over the Marlins.

Impact The Marlins put three runs on the board off Washington reliever Ryne Harper to cut the Nationals' lead to 7-5 with one out in the ninth inning. Rainey was called upon to put out the fire, and he quickly induced groundouts by Miguel Rojas and Jazz Chisholm to secure his second save of the year. It's been a lost season for Rainey, who owns a 6.91 ERA in 35 appearances, but he has managed to provide three straight scoreless outings since returning from Triple-A Rochester.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE