Nationals Place Pitchers Ken Waldichuk, Cole Henry on IL

Waldichuk has left forearm tightness, Henry has right rotator cuff strain

Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:22pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into overlapping planes of muted blue, gray, and brown tones, conveying the dynamic physicality of the sport.A cubist deconstruction of a pitcher's throwing motion highlights the complex movements and forces involved in the sport of baseball.Washington Today

The Washington Nationals have placed left-handed pitcher Ken Waldichuk and right-handed pitcher Cole Henry on the 15-day injured list. Waldichuk is dealing with left forearm tightness, while Henry has a right rotator cuff strain. In corresponding roster moves, the Nationals have recalled right-handers Orlando Ribalta and Jackson Rutledge from their Triple-A affiliate in Rochester.

Why it matters

Losing Waldichuk and Henry is a blow to the Nationals' pitching depth as they look to remain competitive in the NL East division. Both pitchers had struggled with their performances so far this season, but their injuries leave the Nationals shorthanded in the bullpen and rotation.

The details

Waldichuk, 28, has a 6.75 ERA in five relief appearances this season for the Nationals. Henry, 26, was 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA in seven relief appearances. To fill their roster spots, the Nationals have recalled Ribalta, 28, who has a 7.81 ERA in 26 relief appearances over the previous two seasons, and Rutledge, 27, who is 5-3 with a 5.75 ERA in 70 appearances (five starts) for Washington over the previous three seasons.

  • The Nationals placed Waldichuk and Henry on the 15-day injured list on Monday, April 13, 2026.

The players

Ken Waldichuk

A 28-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals who has been placed on the injured list with left forearm tightness.

Cole Henry

A 26-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals who has been placed on the injured list with a right rotator cuff strain.

Orlando Ribalta

A 28-year-old right-handed pitcher who has been recalled from the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate in Rochester.

Jackson Rutledge

A 27-year-old right-handed pitcher who has been recalled from the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate in Rochester.

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The takeaway

The Nationals' pitching depth will be tested with the injuries to Waldichuk and Henry, but the team is hoping that Ribalta and Rutledge can provide some relief in the bullpen and rotation while the injured players recover.