WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Will Harris - On 60-day IL after recent procedure The Nationals placed Harris on the 60-day injured list Thursday after he underwent right pectoral surgery March 31, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Impact After undergoing thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last June, Harris received a clean bill of health heading into spring training. However, Harris almost immediately experienced a setback in his recovery from the surgery, as he was shut down about two weeks ago before manager Dave Martinez acknowledged Tuesday that the right-hander recently required another procedure to remove scar tissue built up in his arm. Harris will be barred from throwing for the next 3-to-4 weeks, and the Nationals' decision to place him on the 60-day IL implies that the right-hander will need at least an additional month beyond that before being ready for game action. Since signing a three-year, $24 million deal with Washington ahead of the 2020 season, Harris has pitched just 23.2 innings for the club.

APRIL 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Seth Romero - Goes on 60-day IL The Nationals recalled Romero from Triple-A Rochester and placed him on the 60-day injured list Thursday due to a left calf strain.

Impact The calf injury is the latest in a growing list of on- and off-field setbacks for Romero, a 2017 first-round pick who has covered just 85.2 innings through his first five professional seasons. Before he was demoted to minor-league camp, Romero hadn't made any Grapefruit League appearances while dealing with back soreness, but it's a different issue that will keep him off the field for the first two months of the 2022 campaign. Once healthy, Romero is expected to head out on an extended rehab assignment, and he'll likely be optioned to Rochester whenever the Nationals choose to activate him from the 60-day IL.

APRIL 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Stephen Strasburg - Moved to IL The Nationals placed Strasburg (neck) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Impact Strasburg is being brought along slowly to begin the season while he works his way back from the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent last July. He's seemingly experienced no setbacks since reporting to spring training, as he's been throwing throughout camp and has faced hitters. Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reported Tuesday that Strasburg is in line to throw another live bullpen session next week at extended spring training in Florida, where he's expected to continue building up for a few more weeks before potentially heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Per Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington, general manager Mike Rizzo said Wednesday that it's a "possibility" that Strasburg could make his season debut with the Nationals as early as May 1, though the organization is reluctant to put a hard timeline on his return.

APRIL 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Maikel Franco - Added to roster The Nationals selected Franco's contract ahead of Thursday's season opener versus the Mets.

Impact The transaction is merely procedural, as it became apparent Franco would begin the season as Washington's everyday third baseman early in spring training, when Carter Kieboom suffered a forearm injury that will likely sideline him for multiple months. Franco solidified the job by provided three extra-base hits -- including two home runs -- across 12 Grapefruit League games, and he could be a solid source of power while he's locked into a full-time role for the Nationals. The 29-year-old offers little fantasy appeal beyond his power numbers, however; he's a lifetime .246 hitter and has recorded four stolen bases over 820 career big-league games.

APRIL 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

MLB Opening Day live updates: Game times, starters, what to watch for Major League Baseball's 2022 season is here. It's Opening Day. The Athletic will bring you the latest news, analysis, updates and more throu...

APRIL 7, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Patrick Corbin, the Nationals' Opening Day starter, is moving forward “I like to go out there and lead by example,” Corbin said. “The big thing for me is taking the ball every fifth day and hopefully that’s som...

APRIL 7, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Gabe Klobosits - DFA'd by Washington Klobosits was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Wednesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Klobosits was with the Nationals for the start of spring training but was optioned to Triple-A Rochester less than two weeks into camp. The 26-year-old appeared in 11 games for Washington last year and had a 5.56 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 5:5 K:BB over 11.1 innings.

APRIL 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mets-Nationals start pushed back 3 hours because of forecast

The scheduled starting time for the opening day matchup between the New York Mets and Washington Nationals has been pushed back three hours because of rain in the forecast

APRIL 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

With no deGrom or Scherzer for Game 1, Mets tab Tylor Megill

Second-year right-hander Tylor Megill has been given the opening day starting assignment for the New York Mets against the Washington Nationals

APRIL 6, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Josiah Gray - Begins season as No. 2 starter Manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday that Gray will start the second game of the Nationals' season-opening series with the Mets, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact Gray is tentatively lined up to start Friday, though Martinez acknowledged that the right-hander may be moved back to Saturday if Thursday's season opener is postponed due to rain being in the forecast that day in Washington D.C. Though Gray's spot in the rotation was never believed to be in any jeopardy, fantasy managers may be best off treading carefully with the 24-year-old, who struggled with both his command and control as a rookie. He showed improvement in the latter area by posting a 13:1 K:BB over 9.2 innings during the Grapefruit League season, but he surrendered five home runs en route to finishing the exhibition slate with a 9.31 ERA.

APRIL 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jackson Rutledge - Working through biceps soreness Nationals manager Dave Martinez said last week that Rutledge has been slowed by biceps soreness during spring training, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Washington invited the right-hander to big-league spring training, but he didn't see any use during the Grapefruit League slate while tending to the injury. While Martinez noted that Rutledge hasn't been shut down and has been doing some throwing of late, he'll likely open the season on the injured list at Low-A Fredericksburg or High-A Wilmington. The biceps issue is the latest in a growing list of injuries that have slowed Rutledge's development since he was selected in the first round of the 2019 first-year player draft.

APRIL 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

2022 Washington Nationals Schedule All Times EDT April 7 N.Y. Mets, 4:05 p.m. April 8 N.Y. Mets, 7:05 p.m. April 9 N.Y. Mets, 7:05 p.m.

APRIL 6, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Nationals open season at home against the Mets

The Washington Nationals host the New York Mets in the season opener

APRIL 6, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington Nationals & Stephen Strasburg Eyeing May Return Over the past two years, Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg has been struggling with injuries, playing in only seven games betwe...

APRIL 6, 2022 • NESN.COM

Mason Thompson - Likely part of Opening Day bullpen Thompson worked 1.1 scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League finale against the Mets, allowing one walk and striking out two. He also threw a wild pitch.

Impact Control issues are nothing new for Thompson, who posted a 7:3 K:BB through 5.2 innings this spring after managing a 12.4 percent walk rate in his rookie campaign last year, split between the Padres and Nationals. The 24-year-old right-hander has the stuff to emerge as a high-leverage arm if he can learn to harness it, but for now Thompson will handle a middle relief role for Washington.

APRIL 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Murphy - Appears set for bullpen spot Murphy tossed a scoreless inning in Tuesday's Grapefruit League finale against the Mets.

Impact The 26-year-old right-hander appears set for a low-leverage spot in the Nationals' bullpen to begin the season after posting a 2.08 ERA and 0.69 WHIP over 4.1 innings this spring. Murphy did record four holds in 17 appearances for Washington last year with a 23:6 K:BB through 18.2 innings after being picked up from Toronto, but they came with a 5.30 ERA.

APRIL 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cesar Hernandez - Wraps up solid spring Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a run scored in Tuesday's Grapefruit League finale against the Mets.

Impact The veteran second baseman hit in the leadoff spot consistently all spring, batting .290 (9-for-31) with a .333 OBP and five runs scored in 10 games. Hernandez doesn't offer any speed at this stage of his career, going 1-for-2 on the basepaths between 2020 and 2021, but he did launch a career-high 21 homers last year, and the 31-year-old should be a solid source of runs hitting ahead of the likes of Juan Soto and Nelson Cruz in the Nationals' batting order.

APRIL 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

World Series odds: Championship futures for every team, best bets

With the MLB season here, let's look at the World Series title odds for every team and best bets offered by Ben Verlander and Jake Mintz.

APRIL 6, 2022

Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz, at the beginning “I can’t remember many trades where a team got both a starting pitcher and starting catcher,” Gray, 24, said. “We need to show people we wer...

APRIL 6, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Dee Strange-Gordon - Secures roster spot Manager Dave Martinez informed Strange-Gordon on Tuesday that the utility man made the Nationals' Opening Day roster, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact The 33-year-old joined Washington on a minor-league deal in December and was able to earn a roster spot by hitting .469 in 12 spring training games. Strange-Gordon didn't play in the majors last season and hit .248/.288/.370 at the Triple-A level with the Cubs, Brewers and Pirates. He'll fill a utility role with Ehire Adrianza (quadriceps) beginning the season on the injured list.

APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Víctor Arano - Makes Opening Day roster Arano will break camp in the big-league bullpen, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Arano came to camp on a minor-league deal but impressed enough to earn a roster spot. He hasn't thrown a major-league inning since 2019, due at least partially to injuries, but he's just 27 years old and has a 2.65 ERA in 74.2 career MLB frames.

APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yadiel Hernandez - Wins roster spot Hernandez has secured a spot on the Opening Day roster, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Hernandez hit .273/.329/.413 as a 33-year-old rookie last season. He doesn't appear to have a path to a starting role but should fill in occasionally in the outfield corners.

APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sam Clay - Sent to Triple-A Clay was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Clay was unable to win a spot in Washington's bullpen and will begin the campaign at the Triple-A level. He appeared in 58 games for the Nationals in 2021 and had a 5.60 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 34:22 K:BB over 45 innings.

APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Rogers - Opening season at Triple-A Rogers was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact The 27-year-old was competing for a spot in Washington's Opening Day rotation, but Joan Adon won the job as the team's No. 5 starter. Rogers will remain stretched out as a starter at Rochester and should be called up by the Nationals at some point this season.

APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Joan Adon - Earns rotation spot Adon has secured a spot in the Nationals' Opening Day rotation, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Adon made his major-league debut in the final game of last season, allowing two runs on six hits in 5.1 frames against the Red Sox while striking out nine and walking three. Prior to that, he'd only made three starts at Double-A and one at Triple-A, so he doesn't have much experience facing high-level hitters. He doesn't come with a ton of prospect pedigree, but the Nationals clearly like what they see in the 23-year-old given how quickly he's ascended through the levels.

APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE