Washington Nationals Closer Dealing with Problematic Injury, But Gets Good Update

The Washington Nationals may be without their closer for a bit, but still appear to have gotten a generally good update.

The following update on Hunter Harvey comes from the Rotowire fantasy baseball portal:

Harvey felt soreness in his right forearm and triceps Saturday, but X-rays came back negative, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

ANALYSIS
Initial tests didn't reveal anything concerning, but Dougherty suggests the Nationals will be "super, super careful" with Harvey given his extensive injury history. Harvey has emerged as the preferred endgamer for manager Davey Martinez in recent weeks. The skipper may have to turn back to Kyle Finnegan in the ninth until Harvey shows he's fully past this latest issue.

The 28-year-old has emerged as a key part of the bullpen in Washington, going 3-4 thus far this season while posting a 3.12 ERA. He's struck out 45 batters in 40.1 innings and has registered nine saves.

He's appeared in 39 games this season, which is already the most games he's ever appeared in in a season.

As for the injuries with which he's dealt over the last few years: He had a pronator problem in 2022, a lat problem and an oblique problem in 2021 and an elbow issue in 2020.

The Nationals are in last place in the National League East so it's understandable why they'd be careful with him.

They entered play on Sunday at 37-55 and tied with the St. Louis Cardinals, 0-0, at the time of this posting. That game is in the bottom of the first.