Nationals Place Pitchers on Injured List

Ken Waldichuk and Cole Henry sidelined with arm injuries

Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:08pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into fragmented, overlapping geometric shapes in muted tones, conveying the disruption to the Nationals' pitching staff.The Nationals' pitching rotation faces disruption as two key relievers land on the injured list.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. The team has recalled right-handers Orlando Ribalta and Jackson Rutledge from their Triple-A affiliate to fill the roster spots.

Why it matters

Losing Waldichuk and Henry is a significant blow to the Nationals' pitching depth as they try to remain competitive in the NL East division. Both pitchers had been contributing out of the bullpen this season, and their injuries will force the team to rely more heavily on their minor league call-ups to fill the void.

The details

Waldichuk, 28, has a 6.75 ERA in five relief appearances so far this season. Henry, 26, was 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA in seven relief appearances. Ribalta, 28, has a 7.81 ERA in 26 relief appearances over the previous two seasons for Washington, while Rutledge, 27, is 5-3 with a 5.75 ERA in 70 appearances (five starts) for the Nationals 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 is dealing with left forearm tightness.

Cole Henry

A 26-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals who has a right rotator cuff strain.

Orlando Ribalta

A 28-year-old right-handed pitcher who has been recalled from Triple-A Rochester to fill one of the roster spots.

Jackson Rutledge

A 27-year-old right-handed pitcher who has been recalled from Triple-A Rochester to fill the other roster spot.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The Nationals' pitching depth will be tested with the loss of Waldichuk and Henry, but the team is hoping that Ribalta and Rutledge can step up and contribute out of the bullpen while the injured players recover.