The Nationals introduced Tuesday that they’ve positioned right-hander Trevor Williams on the 15-day injured checklist as a consequence of a strained flexor muscle in his proper forearm. Left-hander DJ Herz has been recalled from Triple-A Rochester and can make his MLB debut when he begins tonight’s recreation.
Williams is within the midst of a profession 12 months at age 32, having pitched 56 1/3 innings of two.22 ERA ball out of the Washington rotation. He’s achieved these outcomes regardless of a below-average 21% strikeout price and benefited from each a .270 common on balls in play and minuscule 3.3% homer-to-flyball price — all of which sign the potential for regression. Nonetheless, Williams’ efficiency so far has been a serious driving issue behind the Nationals exceeding preseason expectations and hanging round an NL Wild Card race that’s largely populated by sub-.500 golf equipment for the time being.
The Nats didn’t present a timetable for Williams’ return. That he’s coping with a muscle pressure versus a broken flexor tendon is maybe a silver lining, however that doesn’t preclude a notable absence in and of itself. Teammate Josiah Grey is coping with the identical damage and has been on the shelf for practically two months at this level. All accidents instances are totally different, and we don’t know the way the location and severity of Williams’ pressure compares to that of Grey, however Grey’s damage is proof that Williams is hardly assured a swift return to the mound.
The timing of the damage is especially poor for each the workforce and Williams himself. If Washington have been to hold round and make a Wild Card push, one would presume a wholesome Williams would play a notable function. Even when he noticed his pristine ERA regress towards the neighborhood of his 3.97 SIERA, he’d nonetheless be a helpful veteran presence on the employees. And if the Nats have been to fall nicely out of the postseason image, it’s simple to ascertain Williams turning into a sought-after commerce chip. His damage throws a wrench into each eventualities.
On a private stage, it’s additionally poorly timed for the pitcher himself. Wiilliams is taking part in out the second season of a two-year, $13MM contract and is slated to succeed in free company at season’s finish. He landed that $13MM assure within the 2022-23 offseason on the heels of a 12 months spent primarily in a swingman function with the Mets. Had Williams reached the market a second time on the heels of a two-year run as a starter — the second season being a career-best efficiency — he’d have been in line for a extra substantial payday, even heading into his age-33 season. It’s nonetheless attainable he may return in a comparatively well timed method, pitch nicely and attain that endgame, however the damage muddies his possibilities of doing so.
Turning to the 23-year-old Herz, he’ll get his first massive league begin lower than a 12 months after being acquired within the commerce that despatched Jeimer Candelario from the Nats to the Cubs. The 2019 eighth-rounder has had blended leads to the minors this 12 months. On the one hand, his 3.75 ERA and 27.5% strikeout price in Rochester are each robust marks. On the opposite, Herz has averaged simply 4 innings per begin and walked an astounding 19% of his opponents. Command has all the time been a weak spot for the 6’2″ lefty; he’s by no means walked fewer than 13% of his opponents in a full season.
The Nats have already had one lefty make his MLB debut and significantly exceed expectations this season. They’ll hope that Herz can comply with within the footsteps of teammate Mitchell Parker in that regard. Given the state of the rebuilding Nationals and the shortage of different upper-minors pitching depth, Herz may have a reasonably lengthy runway to show himself within the occasion that Williams and/or Grey stay sidelined for a major interval. Prime prospect Cade Cavalli stands as one potential various, however he’s being monitored rigorously in his return from 2023 Tommy John surgical procedure. Prospect Jackson Rutledge and final season’s Rule 5 choose, Thaddeus Ward, are each on the 40-man roster in Rochester however each have ERAs north of 6.00 in Triple-A this season.