Nationals reinstate two-time All-Star Patrick Corbin from COVID IL

The Washington Nationals announced they have reinstated Patrick Corbin from the COVID injured list. He will make his debut start on Saturday night against the Dodgers.

Kyle McGowin has been optioned and placed on Washington’s taxi squad, per Pete Kerzel of MASNsports.com. Adrian Sanchez has been returned to the team’s alternate site. Sanchez did not see any game action. McGowin, 29, had a pair of productive outings for the Nats. As one of their primary multi-inning arms with options remaining, McGowin is sure to find his way back to Nats Park at some point during the 2021 season.

Corbin, meanwhile, ends up not really missing any time. Since Saturday night’s game will be the Nats’ fifth of the season, they are technically still in the first time through the rotation. That could be huge for Nats, who rely heavily on their three-headed monster in the rotation: Corbin, Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer. The Nats turn to Corbin on Saturday night looking for their first victory since Juan Soto walked them off with an RBI single in their first game of the season.