WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Josh Bell - Starting Thursday Bell (knee) is starting Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Bell exited Wednesday's loss to Arizona due to a knee injury, but he underwent an MRI that came back clean and tested the issue ahead of Thursday's matchup. He'll ultimately be able to start at first base and bat cleanup against Arizona. The 29-year-old is hitting .354/.456/.521 with two homers, 11 RBI and 10 runs this season.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ehire Adrianza - Transferred to 60-day IL Adrianza (quadriceps) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Ehire strained his left quadriceps in late March and hasn't made much progress in his rehab. He's still yet to resume running or baseball activities. His return timeline is still not entirely clear, but he'll now be ineligible to return before early June. Erasmo Ramirez had his contract selected to take Adrianza's place on the 40-man roster.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Erasmo Ramírez - Contract selected by Washington Ramirez's contract was selected by the Nationals on Thursday.

Impact Ramirez failed to secure a spot on the Nationals' Opening Day roster this year, but he'll be rewarded with a spot in the major-league bullpen after he struck out 12 in seven scoreless innings in five relief appearances at Triple-A Rochester to begin the year. Right-hander Hunter Harvey was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right pronator strain, while Ehire Adrianza was transferred to the 60-day IL. In spite of his strong start to the year in the minors, Ramirez should pitch mainly in low-leverage situations.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Hunter Harvey - Heads to injured list Harvey landed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a pronator strain in his right arm, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Harvey simply hasn't been able to stay healthy throughout his career, and he was unable to even make to the end of April before hitting the injured list yet again. He's pitched well in his four appearances for the Nationals, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, one walk and one hit, but it could be a while before he pitches again. He'll be out until the start of May at a minimum but could miss at least several more weeks. The Nationals have yet to specify when he's expected to return.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

MLB odds: Braves, Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Astros lead pennant futures

MLB is back! With the season two weeks in, here is a look at the Divisional odds for both the National League and American League.

APRIL 21, 2022

Josh Bell - MRI comes back clean Bell (knee) underwent an MRI on Thursday that came back clean, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Bell felt his knee tighten up while playing first base in Wednesday's loss to Arizona, and he's testing his injury ahead of Thursday's series finale. Even if he's held out Thursday, he should be considered day-to-day following the encouraging MRI results.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dee Strange-Gordon - Likely to require rehab stint Manager Dave Martinez said Thursday that Strange-Gordon (illness) doesn't yet have a timetable to return but is likely to require a rehab stint before joining the major-league club...

Impact Strange-Gordon has missed a week due to an illness, and he'll evidently require at least one game in the minors at some point before he's cleared to rejoin the major-league club. A better timetable for the 33-year-old's return should come into focus once his rehab assignment is announced.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Aníbal Sánchez - Not yet throwing Sanchez (neck) hasn't yet resumed throwing, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Sanchez has been doing strength and conditioning work on his neck and back recently, but the fact that he isn't yet throwing suggests that he'll likely be forced to miss at least one more turn through the rotation. If he ultimately misses another start, Josh Rogers should continue to take his place in the rotation.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Former scout sues Nationals over vaccine-related termination Two former employees filed a similar complaint against the Nationals last fall. Their litigation is still pending.

APRIL 21, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Juan Soto - On base three times in loss Soto went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 11-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Impact The 23-year-old superstar now has a stunning 14:7 BB:K through his first 14 games as the opposition tries to make sure he doesn't beat them, and so far the approach seems to be working. While Soto has a .277/.452/.511 slash line and has scored 10 runs, his only RBI have come on three solo shots.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Erick Fedde - Burned by Arizona Fedde (1-1) took the loss Wednesday as the Nationals were routed 11-2 by the Diamondbacks, coughing up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and a walk over 3.1 innings. He struck...

Impact The Arizona offense was overdue for some positive regression, and Fedde found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time as the Diamondbacks erupted. The right-hander tossed 55 of 80 pitches for strikes before getting the hook after allowing three straight hits in the fourth inning, including a two-run shot by Daulton Varsho. Fedde still has a strong 14:5 K:BB through 13.1 innings over his first three starts, but his 6.75 ERA and 1.65 WHIP make him a risky fantasy option.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals play the Diamondbacks with 2-1 series lead

The Washington Nationals play the Arizona Diamondbacks, leading the series 2-1

APRIL 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

FAA failure to tell Capitol of parachute stunt led to alert

The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing a communications breakdown that led police to think an aircraft carrying military parachutists for a baseball stadium stunt was “a...

APRIL 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

After grinding, Diamondbacks offense finds footing against Nationals In beating the Nationals, 11-2, on Wednesday night, the Diamondbacks scored half as many runs in a single game as they had all season.

APRIL 21, 2022 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Erick Fedde gets lit up as Nationals sputter to 11-2 loss to Diamondbacks After a solid showing in Tuesday's doubleheader, the Nationals' pitching issues returned Wednesday.

APRIL 21, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Josh Bell - MRI scheduled for knee issue Bell was removed from Wednesday's loss to Arizona after his left knee tightened up and will undergo an MRI on Thursday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Bell was pulled from Wednesday's contest after three innings with no obvious injury, but he apparently felt his knee tighten up while playing first base. The 29-year-old seems likely to be out of the lineup Thursday following the MRI, and he should be considered day-to-day for the time being. Maikel Franco took over at first base and could see more time there should Bell be forced to miss any time.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Parachute show at baseball game causes brief Capitol evacuation The U.S. Capitol was briefly evacuated Wednesday after police said they were tracking an aircraft “that poses a probable threat,” but the pl...

APRIL 21, 2022 • MCALL.COM

Josh Bell - Early exit Wednesday Bell was removed from Wednesday's game after three innings against the Diamondbacks with a potential injury, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.

Impact Bell doubled in his lone plate appearance and was thrown out at home plate, and he may have suffered an injury attempting to avoid the tag. The team has yet to make an injury announcement, so it's unclear exactly what prompted the 29-year-old's removal from the contest.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Doolittle (left elbow sprain) sidetracked by IL stint WASHINGTON -- Sean Doolittle is back with the Nationals in the city he loves and where he enjoyed his best baseball memories, and the southp...

APRIL 20, 2022 • MLB.COM

Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle on IL with sprained elbow

Washington Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle has been put on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left elbow that halted his terrific start to the season

APRIL 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MLB's top stars post big numbers, not wins

From Juan Soto to Bryce Harper, the top players in MLB happen to be playing for losing teams. Martin Rogers examines the trend.

APRIL 20, 2022

Sean Doolittle - Likely out for more than minimum Manager Dave Martinez said that Doolittle, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left elbow sprain, will be re-evaluated in 10-to-12 days before the Nationals...

Impact Doolittle was shut down one day after his velocity was down a couple of ticks during his relief appearance against the Diamondbacks, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com. Following the game, Doolittle underwent an MRI, which revealed a slight tear and inflammation in his elbow. At least for the time being, doctors don't believe that surgery is in the cards for Doolittle, though that could change if he fails to demonstrate much progress while he's shut down from throwing.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gerardo Carrillo - Placed on injured list Carrillo was placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list for an unspecified reason Wednesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Carrillo was serving as a reliever to begin the regular season, and he allowed seven runs while striking out six in five innings. However, his velocity was down recently, and he'll be forced to miss at least a week due to his undisclosed injury.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Lane Thomas - Not starting Wednesday Thomas isn't starting Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Thomas started the last nine games and hit .219 with three doubles, five RBI, two runs and 10 strikeouts. Yadiel Hernandez will take his place in left field and bat sixth.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Perez - Remains with major-league club Perez was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Impact Perez joined the major-league roster as an extra man for Tuesday's doubleheader against Arizona, and he'll remain in the major-league bullpen after Sean Doolittle (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. He's made five relief appearances in Rochester this year and has struck out seven in five scoreless frames.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE