60 Hunter Strickland RP

Strickland signed a one-year contract with the Nationals on Monday, avoiding arbitration, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Strickland accumulated a career-worst 5.55 ERA with 18 strikeouts over 24.1 innings with the Mariners and Nationals in 2019, but he'll return to Washington's bullpen next season without having to face arbitration. Sean Doolittle will likely remain as the closer in 2020, but Strickland could serve as a late reliever if he can bring his production closer to the 2.91 ERA he posted over his first five seasons in the majors.

Strickland is not on the Nationals' NLCS roster.

Strickland pitched twice in the NLDS, giving up four runs (including three home runs) in two innings of work. Javy Guerra and Roenis Elias have been added to the roster to replace Strickland and Daniel Hudson (paternity leave).

Strickland returned from the paternity list Friday.

Strickland was away from the team for three days for the birth of his daughter. He returns to Washington for the stretch run, where he owns a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings since a deadline-day trade from Seattle.

The Nationals officially placed Strickland (personal) on the paternity list Tuesday, Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.

Strickland left the team after Sunday's series finale against the Cubs and celebrated the birth of his second child Monday. He'll be able to spend the next three days with his family before rejoining the Nationals.

The Nationals are expected to place Strickland on the paternity list Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Strickland announced Monday via a post on his personal Instagram account that his wife gave birth to his daughter, Brylee, so his move to the paternity list comes as little surprise. The reliever will be able to spend up to three days away from the team, so he's not expected to rejoin the Nationals until Friday's series opener versus the Marlins. The Nationals plan to call up catcher Spencer Kieboom from Double-A Harrisburg to fill Strickland's spot on the active roster.

Strickland (face) was spotted playing catch in the outfield prior to Tuesday's game against the Pirates and should be available to pitch if needed, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Strickland was sent for X-rays after being hit in the face with a bar in the weight room Tuesday; however, he appears to have avoided a significant injury. He was also seen signing autographs after the throwing session, per Zuckerman, which would seem to further indicate that he's fine.

Strickland is headed for X-rays after an accident in the weight room Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

According to Dougherty's report, Strickland was hit in the face by a bar, and his nose was bandaged as he headed for further testing. His availability for Tuesday night's matchup against Pittsburgh is up in the air at this point.

Strickland will be part of a closer-by-committee situation while Sean Doolittle (knee) is on the 10-day injured list, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.

Doolittle is not expected to be sidelined for long. Manager Dave Martinez said he will play matchups in the ninth inning while he is without his closer. Strickland, Daniel Hudson and Fernando Rodney are options to close while Doolittle is out.

Strickland (1-1) gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win over the Brewers on Friday.

The right-hander has been sharp in limited action since joining the Nats' bullpen, posting a 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 5:1 K:BB over six innings with a win and four holds. Fernando Rodney is the top setup man for Sean Doolittle right now, but if the 42-year-old falters, Strickland and Daniel Hudson seem more than capable of picking up the slack.

Strickland was traded from the Mariners to the Nationals in exchange for Aaron Fletcher on Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Strickland becomes the third reliever the Nationals acquired at the deadline after the team previously picked up Daniel Hudson and Roenis Elias. Strickland missed most of the season with a lat injury and has thrown just a single inning since returning from the injured list. He had been the primary candidate for saves in Seattle but won't be picking up any in Washington unless Sean Doolittle gets injured.

Strickland, activated from the 60-day injured list earlier in the day, fired a perfect eighth inning in an extra-inning win over the Tigers on Sunday. He did not record a strikeout or issue a walk.

Strickland's long-awaited return could hardly have gone better, as the right-hander needed just nine pitches to notch his three outs. The veteran had last been on a big-league hill back on March 29 against the Red Sox, so he presumably has no shortage of rust to knock off. However, after a few outings to get back into the swing of things, it's expected Strickland will gradually return to ninth-inning work in a closer timeshare, at minimum, with Roenis Elias.

The Mariners activated Strickland (lat) from the 60-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Strickland will rejoin the big club for the first time since late March after recovering from a Grade 2 lat strain. Before getting hurt, Strickland had served as Seattle's closer, notching three saves in four chances. Due to his lengthy layoff, Strickland will likely be eased back into Seattle's late-inning mix, but he should have a good chance of eventually unseating Roenis Elias as the team's primary closer. Elias has converted 13 saves in 15 chances on the season but owns an underwhelming 4.60 ERA (4.77 FIP) and 1.27 WHIP across 45 innings, affording him little job security.

Strickland (lat) passed his medical exam Friday and will be activated from the injured list Sunday or early in the week, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The veteran reliever is on the cusp of a long-awaited return after Friday's developments, and if his minor-league rehab performances are any indication, Strickland will be a welcome addition to the Mariners relief corps. Roenis Elias has done a serviceable job as a closer, converting 13 of 15 save opportunities but also generating an elevated 4.60 ERA. Strickland will presumably give Elias more downtime while potentially serving as the right-handed side of a ninth-inning platoon alongside his southpaw teammate. Strickland generated a 3.00 ERA and posted a 4:1 K:BB across three innings over three rehab outings.

Strickland (lat) struck out two across a perfect inning Thursday night at Triple-A Tacoma, and if he passes his medical exam Friday, he's expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list sometime over the weekend, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Strickland suffered a Grade 2 lat strain near the end of March, and he's been on the shelf since. He began a rehab assignment July 19 with Triple-A Tacoma, and after making three appearances, he's on the verge of a return. Strickland's activation would be a welcome sight for Seattle's bullpen.

Strickland (lat) will make at least one more rehab appearance with Triple-A Tacoma this week before the Mariners consider activating him from the 60-day injured list, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Strickland made his second rehab appearance with the affiliate Tuesday, striking out two of the five batters he faced but allowing a solo home run along with another hit. While the Mariners are encouraged with how Strickland has looked on the health front, manager Scott Servais said the reliever won't be activated until he shows more polish with his secondary pitches. Strickland previously said that he hopes to be reinstated from the IL at some point this weekend during the Mariners' home series with the Tigers, but a return next week during Seattle's road trip could be a more realistic target.

Strickland (lat) is expected to be activated off the 60-day injured list during the Mariners' upcoming road trip, which begins July 30 in Texas, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Strickland began a rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Tacoma and delivered a scoreless inning while reaching 98 mph with his fastball. According to Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle, the 30-year-old is scheduled to pitch again Tuesday and make one additional rehab outing before rejoining the Mariners next week.

Strickland (lat) worked a scoreless inning while walking one in a rehab outing with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday.

Mike Curto, Tacoma's broadcaster, reported that Strickland hit 97 and 98 mph with his fastball. That's a good sign that Strickland is healthy and nearing a return to the big-league club. The appearance was his first live action since late March, so he may still be a few outings away from factoring into Seattle's bullpen. However, once he does, he could be in consideration for save opportunities.

Strickland (lat) will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Strickland was cleared to throw live batting practice Wednesday, and after faring well in that throwing session, he's been given the green light to start a minor-league assignment. He's expected to make three appearances for the Rainiers and will then be activated during Seattle's weekend series with Detroit if all goes according to plan.

Strickland (lat) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Strickland completed a bullpen session Saturday with no restrictions and may head to the minors for a rehab assignment if all goes well Wednesday. The 30-year-old has been sidelined since late March with the Grade 2 right lat strain and figures to require multiple outings in the minors given the length of his absence.

Strickland (lat) threw a successful bullpen session prior to Saturday's game against the Angels, Sarah Wexler of MLB.com reports. "Outstanding," said manager Scott Servais. "Looked really, really good. I went down and watched it myself. He threw 25 pitches, no reservations, did not hold back at all. The ball was coming out hot, and the breaking ball was really good as well."

The veteran reliever appears to finally be over the hump in his recovery, and as previously reported, he'll now progress to throwing live batting practice. That session will unfold at Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday, and if all goes well, it's likely Strickland sticks around with the Rainiers for a rehab assignment of to-be-determined duration.