The Washington Nationals have placed right-handed reliever Tanner Rainey on the 10-day injured list with a right flexor strain. Right-handed pitcher Aaron Barrett is being called up in Rainey’s place.
The 26-year old Rainey has shown promise as one of manager Dave Martinez’s most reliable arms out of the bullpen. This season, he had a 2.66 ERA with a 0.738 WHIP. That promise also flashed potential at being a closer for Washington in the future.
Rainey last pitched on Sept. 10 before being made unavailable with forearm tightness. With the Nationals in last place of the NL East with a 17-28 and not gaining ground, that outing could turn out to be Rainey’s last of the season.
While Rainey’s placement on the IL is disappointing, the promotion of right-handed pitcher Aaron Barrett is compelling. Barrett was a promising reliever for the Nationals before his career stalled in 2015 with Tommy John surgery.
He suffered a major setback in 2016 while rehabbing when he fractured his arm while pitching at the Nationals minor league complex in Florida. The two injuries kept him from pitching in a game until 2018. He eventually earned an emotional call-up back to the Majors last season with the Nationals during the September’s roster expansions.
Now, he hopes to build on his comeback with another opportunity in the Majors.
