Nationals Face Injury Woes as Four Players Land on IL Ahead of Opening Day

In a significant blow to their roster, the Washington Nationals have announced that four players will be heading to the injured list (IL) as they prepare for Opening Day. The announcements, which were made retroactive to March 24, involve right-handers Derek Law and Zach Brzykcy, infielder Andres Chaparro, and right-hander Cade Cavalli.

Derek Law and Zach Brzykcy will both be placed on the 15-day IL due to forearm inflammation and a right quad strain, respectively. Meanwhile, Chaparro’s oblique strain will sideline him for at least 10 days, while Cavalli continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, putting him on the 15-day IL as well.

In a notable roster shakeup, DJ Herz has been transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day IL after suffering a UCL tear, raising concerns about the possibility of him needing Tommy John surgery as well. This move opens a spot on the 40-man roster, allowing the Nationals to select right-hander Brad Lord's contract—a move that was reported earlier today.

The struggles for Law aren’t new; as noted by Spencer Nusbaum of the Washington Post, his forearm issues stem from last season when he endured nearly three weeks on the sidelines due to a flexor strain in his elbow. Although Law returned quickly, discomfort lingered into Spring Training, limiting him to just one Grapefruit League appearance. According to reports, an MRI has shown no major issues, and Law is optimistic about returning to action when eligible on April 8. Last season, he was a key contributor for the Nationals, completing 90 innings with a stellar 2.60 ERA over 75 games.

Brzykcy has also faced challenges this spring, only making a single appearance due to his quad injury. The 2020 undrafted free agent who made his MLB debut last season struggled, posting a high ERA over a small sample size. After undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, he was poised for a rebound and made significant progress during the offseason but may end up on the IL longer than the minimum anticipated due to limited work during spring training.

Infielder Andres Chaparro, who debuted last season and performed decently with a .215 batting average and four home runs in 132 plate appearances, was caught off-guard when his oblique injury occurred during batting practice, jeopardizing his chances at a solid bench position behind recent signings Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell. The uncertainty associated with oblique injuries means his return to the lineup remains questionable; the best-case scenario would see him activated by mid-April.

The absence of Chaparro, along with Juan Yepez and Andrew Knizner—who were optioned to Triple-A—leaves the Nationals with a thin bench consisting of Riley Adams as the backup catcher, veteran Amed Rosario, and primary backup infielder Jose Tena. The bullpen has also adjusted, bringing in rookie Orlando Ribalta and Lord to fill the final spots due to these injuries and roster decisions.

As the Nationals navigate these setbacks, fans can’t help but wonder how these early injuries will affect the team's performance as they set out for the new season. Will they be able to recover quickly and remain competitive in the tough landscape of MLB? Only time will tell!