Nationals to activate Jake Irvin for Braves series opener
The Washington Nationals are set to activate Jake Irvin from the 60-day injured list to start the opener of their four-game series against the Atlanta Braves. The right-hander returns after more than two months sidelined with a shoulder strain, coincidentally suffered in Washington's previous series against Atlanta.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Washington tabbed Irvin to face Grant Holmes in the series opener in Atlanta. The club will officially activate him from the 60-day injured list before the game, bringing the 40-man roster to capacity after optioning reliever Paxton Schultz. For more celebrity sports headlines, visit our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
Key Takeaways
- Jake Irvin is being activated from the 60-day injured list to start for the Nationals against the Braves.
- He missed just over two months with a shoulder strain first suffered during Washington's prior series in Atlanta.
- Irvin posted 8 1/3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and one hit allowed in rehab work at Double-A Harrisburg.
- He enters with a 5.23 ERA over 51 2/3 innings and will round out a rotation with Foster Griffin, Cade Cavalli, Zack Littell and Miles Mikolas.
- The Nationals sit two games out in the Wild Card race as a pivotal Braves series begins near the trade deadline.
Why are the Nationals activating Jake Irvin now?
Washington needs innings and a healthy starter as it opens a four-game road set that Sports Illustrated called among the club's most important of the season ahead of the trade deadline. Irvin's return comes a day after fellow veteran Trevor Williams was also reinstated from the injured list, giving the pitching staff a sudden health boost.
District on Deck noted the Nationals are two games behind the final Wild Card spot and only a game above .500, so the Atlanta series could shape whether the front office buys or sells. Irvin draws the series opener assignment as that pressure mounts.
How did Jake Irvin look before and during his rehab?
Irvin's last big-league outing ended abruptly. He had thrown five hitless innings with seven strikeouts against Atlanta on May 23 before the shoulder strain cut short what was shaping up as one of his better starts. Completing the sixth would have given him his first quality start in 11 appearances this season.
The 29-year-old righty owns a 5.23 ERA across 51 2/3 innings and a 2-4 record with a 1.355 WHIP, per District on Deck. He was missing more bats early, striking out about a quarter of opponents after a 15.8% strikeout rate last year, when he led the majors with 114 earned runs allowed.
On rehab, Sports Illustrated reported three starts total, including one with Washington's Florida Complex League affiliate and two at Double-A Harrisburg. With Harrisburg, he threw 8 1/3 scoreless frames, allowing one hit with nine strikeouts and one walk—a strong ramp-up before facing Atlanta again.
What does Jake Irvin's return mean for the Nationals rotation?
Irvin rounds out the rotation behind Foster Griffin, Cade Cavalli, Zack Littell and Miles Mikolas. Griffin is scheduled to start Friday in what could be his final appearance with the club, as Washington weighs trading the impending free agent while sitting close in the Wild Card race.
Newly acquired left-hander Connelly Early is expected back from elbow inflammation and could eventually bump someone from the group. Sports Illustrated added that manager Blake Butera has sought multi-inning relief options, so Irvin could later shift to the bullpen if Early returns and other arms stay healthy. First, though, Irvin must prove he is ready against a dangerous Braves lineup.