Washington Nationals right-hander Tanner Rainey, who returned late last year from Tommy John surgery, had a perfect inning in his Grapefruit League outing on Thursday and threw only nine pitches (six strikes). His fastball topped out at 92 mph, though, which was a bit alarming since he averaged 97 mph on his fastball before his elbow injury. However, the 31-year-old wasn't concerned, pointing out he's never thrown hard in spring training and has no doubts his full velocity will return by the start of the season. Rainey made just one appearance in 2023 and could have a high-leverage role in Washington's bullpen in 2024 if he stays healthy. He might be useful in deep holds leagues, but it's probably going to take an injury to Kyle Finnegan or Hunter Harvey for Rainey to get any save chances for a Nats team that isn't expected to be very good.

Washington Nationals pitcher Tanner Rainey has avoided arbitration and signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract for the 2024 season. The right-hander made just a single relief appearance for the Nats in the 2023 campaign in his return from Tommy John surgery. He rebounded from a ghastly 7.39 ERA across 38 outings in the 2021 season to toss a 3.30 ERA across 29 appearances in the 2022 season before undergoing the UCL procedure on his right below. A veteran of 148 MLB appearances, the 30-year-old owns a career 5.40 ERA. However, he also sports a superior 4.10 SIERA while he has notched an ERA of 3.91 or better in three of his last four seasons. He should be featured often in the Nationals' bullpen in 2024.

Washington Nationals relief pitchers Sean Doolittle (elbow) and Tanner Rainey (elbow) will return to Florida to continue their respective elbow rehabs after the 2023 regular season begins. Doolittle is a little further along than Rainey, who is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. "He's building up strength, he's throwing," manager Dave Martinez said of Doolittle. "Actually he's throwing the ball really well. So hopefully we get him back soon. He's gonna go back and I think pretty soon he'll be throwing off the mound. But he's throwing the ball well. So I wanted him here. He's been through this before. He's gonna go to the (Homecoming) Gala with us. And I told him to stick around for Opening Day him and Rainey both. So they're going to be around for Opening Day and then they're going to take off and go back to Florida."

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Tanner Rainey (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday. We already knew there was a pretty good chance that Rainey would miss the rest of the season with a UCL injury to his right elbow, but now it's official after the surgery. The 29-year-old will now miss the majority of the 2023 season as well as he recovers from elbow reconstruction. Rainey was solid for the Nats in 29 relief appearances in 2022 before his injury, posting a 3.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 12 saves and 36 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched. Kyle Finnegan is now the team's primary closer, but he's a low-end fantasy closing option on the worst team in baseball, especially after they just traded away superstar outfielder Juan Soto and first baseman Josh Bell on Tuesday.

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Tanner Rainey tossed a scoreless ninth inning during Sunday's victory over the Texas Rangers. The 29-year-old issued a walk to Josh Smith, but got Marcus Semien to ground out to end the game. This marked his 10th save of the season in 13 opportunities. Rainey has been fairly reliable this season, but the Nationals don't get many save opportunities these days. Possibly. Rainey gets moved at the trade deadline to a more competitive team.

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Tanner Rainey earned his fourth save of the season Wednesday, allowing one hit and one run to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a scoreless inning of work to preserve a 1-0 victory. While save opportunities have been hard to come by, it's clear that Rainey remains the top option for manager Davey Martinez. With his 2.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings, Rainey is worth rostering due to his role, but he will have limited upside for a team destined to finish in last place in the NL East.

Washington Nationals reliever Tanner Rainey picked up his third save of the season Tuesday, pitching the ninth inning of the 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. He walked and struck out one and kept his season earned run total at zero. Over four innings this year, Rainey's issued just one walk, which is something that's plagued him during his career. Many thought Kyle Finnegan would keep the closer role after recording 11 saves last year over final two months. Not many would've predicted Rainey, if anybody, to steal the job after a disastrous season a year ago where he posted a 7.39 ERA over 31.2 innings. But, the 29-year-old earned Dave Martinez's trust during Spring Training and looks to be the official closer in D.C. Rainey's already awarding his bench boss and fantasy managers who took a chance on him.

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Tanner Rainey earned his second save of the year as he closed out the team's 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. Rainey pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit while striking out one batter. He is the only Nationals reliever to receive a save opportunity so far this year and he's converted both of his opportunities. Kyle Finnegan had been seen as a frontrunner for saves for the team going into the year, but he pitched the sixth inning in Wednesday's game. While the Nationals may wind up going with a committee, Rainey is no question the reliever who should be rostered by fantasy managers at this point.

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Tanner Rainey earned the save in Sunday's 4-2 victory over the New York Mets. It was the team's first victory of the year and the first time we've seen the club handle a save opportunity. All indications are that the Nationals will go with a closer-by-committee approach this year. However, Kyle Finnegan has been regarded as the most likely candidate to be at the head of that committee. Finnegan pitched the eighth inning in Sunday's game. It's important to note that the Nationals were trailing 2-1 in the game when Finnegan entered in the top of the eighth. The team scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 4-2 lead. If the Nationals had been ahead from earlier on, we may have seen the bullpen handled differently, so don't be too quick to anoint Rainey as the new frontrunner for saves for the team.

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Tanner Rainey earned his third save of the season Monday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk. He did not strike out a batter. Most notably, Rainey entered the game after Kyle Finnegan, indicating that Rainey may have taken over the closer role for the remainder of the season. With his eight strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings since returning from the injured list, Rainey has the potential to make a big impact in the last week of the year.

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Tanner Rainey earned his first save of the year Wednesday, setting down both batters he faced against the Miami Marlins. Rainey has made three appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester, and he has not allowed a baserunner. He struck out all six he faced in the two outings prior to this one. Kyle Finnegan is safely in the closer role for now, but Rainey is the pitcher with more upside, and fantasy managers should keep an eye on him heading into 2022.

The Washington Nationals have shut down relief pitcher Tanner Rainey (side) due to side pain. Rainey had been pitching at Triple-A Rochester prior to the injury. His recent MRI came back negative for any structural damage, which is certainly promising. Now that he has been shut down, he will likely be sidelined for a good amount of time. Rainey has had a rough year so far. Over 32 appearances with the Nationals, he pitched to a 7.62 ERA and a 1.81 WHIP.

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Tanner Rainey was optioned to Triple-A Rochester Sunday, in a surprise correlating move to make room for starting pitcher Josiah Gray on the active roster. The team reportedly wants Rainey to pitch every other day to work on his mechanics, and manager Davey Martinez said he expects Rainey to eventually resume his role as a late-inning option, potentially splitting saves with Kyle Finnegan. For now, fantasy managers can ignore Rainey, but this makes Finnegan all the more attractive as an add.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kyle Schwarber limped into the Washington Nationals' dugout on Saturday with a heavy wrap poking out of the right side of his shorts. Schwarber was in shower shoes and trying to be upbeat when meeting with reporters after being placed on the 10-day injured list because of a right hamstring strain. There is no timetable for his return. “It’s not the best, but not the worst,” Schwarber said. “Just got to take it for what it is.” He was among the hottest hitters in the majors, bashing 16 home runs in June, seven of them leading off games. All were critical for the Nationals, who went 19-9 in the month to turn their season around. Schwarber said he does not need a procedure to repair damage to his hamstring. Instead, he will use compression treatment to reduce swelling. Rest and strengthening exercises will follow. He has not had a hamstring injury previously. Schwarber tore two ligaments in his left knee in 2016. But a furious recovery pace allowed him to rejoin the Chicago... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani struck out nine over six innings of one-run ball for the Angels, but the San Francisco Giants rallied for seven runs in the 13th inning of a 9-3 victory over Los Angeles on Wednesday. Steven Duggar had an RBI double in the 12th and a two-run single in the 13th for the Giants, who finally blew it open while the Angels had outfielder Taylor Ward playing catcher and starting pitcher Griffin Canning playing left field as the fallout from an untimely injury to Kurt Suzuki and a series of strategic decisions made to allow Ohtani to hit for himself. Mike Tauchman struck out five times before hitting a three-run homer to cap the Giants’ 13th-inning rally. Brandon Crawford put San Francisco ahead to stay with a bases-loaded walk from Alex Claudio (1-2), who walked three straight in the 13th. The 13-inning game matched the longest in the majors since the institution of the runner-on-second-base rule to open extra innings last season. Dominic Leone (1-0) won despite... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani struck out nine over six innings of one-run ball for the Angels, but the San Francisco Giants rallied for seven runs in the 13th inning of a 9-3 victory over Los Angeles on Wednesday. Steven Duggar had an RBI double in the 12th and a two-run single in the 13th for the Giants, who finally blew it open while the Angels had outfielder Taylor Ward playing catcher and starting pitcher Griffin Canning playing left field as the fallout from an untimely injury to Kurt Suzuki and a series of strategic decisions made to allow Ohtani to hit for himself. Mike Tauchman struck out five times before hitting a three-run homer to cap the Giants’ 13th-inning rally. Brandon Crawford put San Francisco ahead to stay with a bases-loaded walk from Alex Claudio (1-2), who walked three straight in the 13th. The 13-inning game matched the longest in the majors since the institution of the runner-on-second-base rule to open extra innings last season. Dominic Leone (1-0) won despite... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani struck out nine over six innings of one-run ball for the Angels, but the San Francisco Giants rallied for seven runs in the 13th inning of a 9-3 victory over Los Angeles on Wednesday. Steven Duggar had an RBI double in the 12th and a two-run single in the 13th for the Giants, who finally blew it open while the Angels had outfielder Taylor Ward playing catcher and starting pitcher Griffin Canning playing left field as the fallout from an untimely injury to Kurt Suzuki and a series of strategic decisions made to allow Ohtani to hit for himself. Mike Tauchman struck out five times before hitting a three-run homer to cap the Giants’ 13th-inning rally. Brandon Crawford put San Francisco ahead to stay with a bases-loaded walk from Alex Claudio (1-2), who walked three straight in the 13th. The 13-inning game matched the longest in the majors since the institution of the runner-on-second-base rule to open extra innings last season. Dominic Leone (1-0) won despite... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joc Pederson and Sergio Alcantara homered, and Jake Arrieta threw five strong innings for the Chicago Cubs, who beat former teammate Yu Darvish and the San Diego Padres 3-1 Wednesday to take two of three. The Cubs beat the Padres five times in six games in a 10-day stretch, including a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field last week. Darvish (6-2) retired the first nine Cubs batters before Pederson hit a towering home run to right-center field leading off the fourth to tie it at 1. Darvish pitched well but took the hard-luck loss when the Cubs scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on Anthony Rizzo’s double-play ball. Arrieta allowed one run and four hits in five innings, struck out six and walked one. He allowed Manny Machado’s RBI single in the third. Rex Brothers (2-0) pitched a perfect sixth for the win. Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances. ATHLETICS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 0 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sean Manaea pitched six innings of two-hit ball,... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joc Pederson and Sergio Alcantara homered, and Jake Arrieta threw five strong innings for the Chicago Cubs, who beat former teammate Yu Darvish and the San Diego Padres 3-1 Wednesday to take two of three. The Cubs beat the Padres five times in six games in a 10-day stretch, including a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field last week. Darvish (6-2) retired the first nine Cubs batters before Pederson hit a towering home run to right-center field leading off the fourth to tie it at 1. Darvish pitched well but took the hard-luck loss when the Cubs scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on Anthony Rizzo’s double-play ball. Arrieta allowed one run and four hits in five innings, struck out six and walked one. He allowed Manny Machado’s RBI single in the third. Rex Brothers (2-0) pitched a perfect sixth for the win. Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances. ATHLETICS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 0 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sean Manaea pitched six innings of two-hit ball,... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joc Pederson and Sergio Alcantara homered, and Jake Arrieta threw five strong innings for the Chicago Cubs, who beat former teammate Yu Darvish and the San Diego Padres 3-1 Wednesday to take two of three. The Cubs beat the Padres five times in six games in a 10-day stretch, including a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field last week. Darvish (6-2) retired the first nine Cubs batters before Pederson hit a towering home run to right-center field leading off the fourth to tie it at 1. Darvish pitched well but took the hard-luck loss when the Cubs scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on Anthony Rizzo’s double-play ball. Arrieta allowed one run and four hits in five innings, struck out six and walked one. He allowed Manny Machado’s RBI single in the third. Rex Brothers (2-0) pitched a perfect sixth for the win. Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances. ATHLETICS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 0 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sean Manaea pitched six innings of two-hit ball,... [More]