Nationals Pitcher Becomes the Latest Arm Injury Victim

Gray was scheduled to start Tuesday’s matchup against the San Francisco Giants, but will head to the injured list instead. The Nationals will recall righty Joan Adon from Triple-A to start in Gray’s absence. The news comes right after the Boston Red Sox placed Nick Pivetta on the injured list with his own flexor strain.

Washington Nationals Place Josiah Gray on the Injured List

Gray struggled mightily in his two starts this season. He posted a 14.04 ERA in 8 1/3 total innings with nine strikeouts and five walks. This performance follows a spring in which the 26-year-old produced a 6.61 ERA in 16 1/3 frames.

As of now, there’s no indication that his struggles are related to his arm injury. However, Gray’s 2024 regression follows a breakout 2023 campaign. Last year, he pitched 159 innings across 30 starts with a 110 ERA+. His performance earned him a spot on the National League All-Star roster in July.

While the overall numbers aren’t superb, 2023 marked the first time Gray experienced extended success at the big league level. Washington possessed high hopes for the former second-round pick when they acquired him in the Max Scherzer deal. After Gray’s solid 2023, many hoped he would further break out this season and establish himself as an ace.

It’s unclear how long Gray will stay on the injured list. But for now, Adon will get the first crack at replacing him. The 25-year-old has seen minimal time in the majors across the past three seasons. For his career, Adon has thrown 121 2/3 innings across 27 games (25 starts) with a troubling 6.66 ERA.

Adon joined the Nationals taxi squad (a small group of minor league players that teams bring on road trips in case of last-minute injuries) after Gray’s last start on April 4. That move indicates that Washington was concerned with Gray’s health and knew an injured list placement was a possibility.