The Nationals reinstated Rainey (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Friday.
Rainey has been on the shelf all year while recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in August 2022. He began a rehab assignment in early August and pitched to a 3.75 ERA and 1.42 WHIP through 12 innings while striking out 13 batters and walking six. Rainey may make an appearance out of the Nats' bullpen before the end of the year, but he doesn't figure to serve in a prominent role as he re-adjusts to major-league batters.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Not ruled out for 2023 cameo
Rotowire
Rainey (elbow) could be activated from the 60-day injured list before the end of the regular season, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander is in the final stages of his recovery from last year's Tommy John surgery, and he's expected to throw a couple bullpen sessions this week during Washington's final homestand of the season before a decision is made on whether to activate him from the 60-day IL. "I know [pitching coach Jim] Hickey wants to see him throw up here and then see where he's at, and then we'll go from there," manager Dave Martinez said Friday. "I don't want to shut him down, I want him to continue pitching. There could be a chance that he comes up here, pitches one or two games. We'll see when that day comes." Rainey recorded 12 saves in 2022 before landing on the injured list in July, and he figures to be part of the Nats' high-leverage mix in 2024.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Remains on rehab assignment
Rotowire
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that Rainey (elbow) will "get a few more outings" on his minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 60-day injured list, MLB.com reports.
Rainey has a bit of achiness in his right arm, but Martinez labeled it as "the norm" for a pitcher who went a full calendar year between live appearances. Now more than 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery, the 30-year-old reliever has posted a 5.14 ERA and 8:6 K:BB in seven rehab innings between the rookie-level Florida Complex League, Single-A Fredericksburg, Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Rehab moved up to Triple-A
Rotowire
Rainey (elbow) has been transferred to Triple-A Rochester to continue his rehab assignment, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Rainey has allowed two runs with a 5:2 K:BB over 4.1 innings in his first five rehab appearances, including three scoreless outings in his last stop with Double-A Harrisburg. He has not yet pitched on back-to-back days, something he'll need to show he can do before making his long-awaited return from Tommy John surgery.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Close to return
Rotowire
Rainey (elbow) threw 19 pitches in a rehab appearance for Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday as he closes in on his return from Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
The right-hander will pitch in another rehab game later this week, but Nationals manager Dave Martinez indicated Rainey will need to show he can work back-to-back games before he'll be activated from the 60-day IL, which could push his return to early September. He did record 12 saves in 2022 before undergoing surgery that August, but Rainey will likely slot into a lower-leverage role behind Kyle Finnegan and Hunter Harvey once he's activated.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Rainey (elbow) is heading out on a rehab assignment with Single-A Fredericksburg this upcoming week, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
He threw a bullpen session Sunday after facing live hitters Friday. Rainey is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, so his rehab assignment could be lengthier than that of the typical injured relief pitcher. Kyle Finnegan and Hunter Harvey (elbow) should be handling the save opportunities over the rest of the season, so Rainey will likely be activated into a setup role, assuming he makes it back this year.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Will throw to live hitters
Rotowire
Rainey (elbow) is set to throw to live hitters Friday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Rainey is in the final stages of returning from Tommy John surgery. He made a rehab appearance in the Florida Complex League on Monday, where he pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout. Now set to throw to live hitters at Nationals Park, the 30-year-old will throw 35-to-40 pitches. Given that he has only begun facing live hitters, a return to the big-league bullpen is not imminent, but he could be back in a couple weeks if he avoids setbacks.
Rainey (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with the Nationals' Florida Complex League affiliate on Monday.
Rainey is finally game-ready following a long road back from Tommy John surgery. The hard-throwing reliever will eventually work his way up to higher affiliates and figures to need a good number of appearances before rejoining the Nationals' bullpen.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Moves to simulated work
Rotowire
Rainey (elbow) is scheduled to make a simulated appearance Friday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Rainey is almost 12 full months removed from Tommy John surgery and could get into a handful of games for the Nationals before their 2023 season comes to an end. He's under club control through 2025 but might be a trade candidate this winter if he's able to prove his health.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Throws side session
Rotowire
Rainey (elbow) threw a 45-pitch bullpen session Friday without issue, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez suggested that Rainey might get into minor-league games before the All-Star break, which would be a little less than 12 months after his Tommy John surgery in early August 2022. He's made swift progress and could perhaps factor into the saves mix in Washington by the end of the year, given that neither Kyle Finnegan nor Hunter Harvey have distinguished themselves in a high-leverage role.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Throwing off mound
Rotowire
Rainey (elbow) threw 10 pitches off a mound Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Rainey continues to make steady progress in his recovery from Tommy John surgery last August. The current hope is that he might be able to return to the Nationals' bullpen toward the end of the 2023 regular season.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Officially on 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Rainey (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Rainey hopes to return in the latter portion of this season while he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, but it's not a guarantee. The Nationals were able to clear a 40-man roster spot with this transaction.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Will continue rehab in Florida
Rotowire
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Tuesday that Rainey (elbow) will continue his rehab at the team's spring training complex, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Rainey is with the Nats in D.C. ahead of Opening Day on Thursday, but he'll head back to Florida on Friday. The 30-year-old right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last August and should not be counted on for any sort of fantasy production in 2023, even if he achieves his goal of making it back before September.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Progressing in throwing program
Rotowire
Rainey (elbow) is currently throwing from 60 feet away as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Rainey is currently in the third week of his throwing program. The right-hander's goal is to return to the diamond by Aug. 3, which is the 12-month mark from when he underwent the surgery. When Rainey returns to the Nationals, it's possible he could see save opportunities, but he can safely be ignored in redraft fantasy formats at this point.
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Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Rainey (elbow) and the Nationals agreed to a one-year deal Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Rainey underwent Tommy John surgery in early August, so he'll make no more than a handful of appearances this season if he makes it back at all. Kyle Finnegan remains the favorite to close games in his absence.
Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Rainey underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Rainey was expected to miss the remainder of the season after he was placed on the 60-day injured list in mid-July, and he's slated to be sidelined until at least August 2023 following Wednesday's procedure. Kyle Finnegan has taken over as Washington's closer while Rainey has been unavailable.
The Nationals placed Rainey on the 60-day injured list Wednesday due to a UCL sprain of his right elbow.
Washington hadn't disclosed that Rainey was dealing with any injury before the closer landed on the IL prior to the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with Seattle. Given the nature of his injury along with the fact that he was shuttled to the 60-day IL rather than the 15-day IL, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com speculates that Rainey will require season-ending surgery. Whether it's Tommy John surgery or a different type of elbow procedure will determine Rainey's recovery timeline, but fantasy managers in redraft leagues can feel comfortable moving on from the 29-year-old right-hander. He recorded 12 saves and turned in a 3.30 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 30 innings out of the bullpen this season.
