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Rainey has posted a 6.58 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 22:18 K:BB through 26 innings with zero wins, saves or holds in 25 appearances. A brutal start to the season is still tainting his ratios, but Rainey has actually been an effective relief arm for the last couple months. Over his last 12 appearances dating back to May 21, the 31-year-old right-hander has been scored upon only once, and he's compiled a 2.77 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB through 13 innings over that stretch. Despite that improvement, Rainey is still a shell of the pitcher he was prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2022. His 93.7 mph fastball average is a far cry from the 97.0 mph he was dialing up in 2022 before his elbow gave out, and his days as a viable high-leverage bullpen option appear to be over.
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Rainey has averaged 93.6 mph with his fastball so far in 2024, down significantly from the 97.0 mph he averaged over 30 innings in 2022 prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery that August. In his most recent appearance Saturday, Rainey gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning but topped out at 95.1 mph, and he missed out on a decision as the Nationals went on to win in the 10th. The 31-year-old right-hander has been superficially effective since getting tagged for three runs in his first two outings of the year, and he's allowed just one run in his last six innings. His 1.50 ERA over that stretch comes with a 1.83 WHIP and 5:4 K:BB, however. Rainey has yet to record a win, hold or save in 2024, and he might need to regain his lost velocity if he's going to work his way back into a consistent high-leverage role.
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Rainey topped out at 92 mph with his fastball while working a scoreless inning of relief during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports. The 31-year-old right-hander made only one appearance last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2022, but he's healthy coming into camp and looking to regain a high-leverage role in the Nationals' bullpen. Rainey averaged 97.0 mph with his fastball in 2022 prior to going under the knife, but he said after Thursday's game he wasn't concerned about the radar gun readings. "You go back and look at my springs the past four or five years, that's probably harder than I'm usually throwing [at this point]," Rainey said. "I've started springs before at 88-89 mph. The velocity is not an issue... Hopefully from here on, it's a normal spring training, every two or three days on the mound. Being able to work on things while I'm pitching. That way come mid-late March, we're in midseason form and ready to go." Even if he returns to form, Rainey figures to open the season behind both Kyle Finnegan and Hunter Harvey in the pecking order for saves.
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Rainey agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Nationals on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. The 30-year-old righty missed almost all of 2023 on the road back from Tommy John surgery, but he tossed a scoreless inning against Atlanta on Sept. 30 and averaged 96.3 mph with his fastball. He should work in a setup role for Washington in 2024.
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The Nationals reinstated Rainey (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Friday. Rainey has been on the shelf all year while recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in August 2022. He began a rehab assignment in early August of this year and posted a 3.75 ERA and 1.42 WHIP through 12 innings while striking out 13 batters and walking six. Rainey may make an appearance out of the Nats' bullpen before the end of the year, but he doesn't figure to serve in a prominent role as he re-adjusts to major-league batters.
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Stats
| Year | Team | APP | GS | INN | W | L | S | K | BBI | HA | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | WAS | 50 | 0 | 51.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 29 | 47 | 4.76 | 1.49 |
| 2023 | WAS | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 | 2.00 |
| 2022 | WAS | 29 | 0 | 30.0 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 36 | 13 | 26 | 3.30 | 1.30 |
Last 7 Games
| DATE | Opp | W | L | S | INN | HA | ERA | BBI | K | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/27 | vs  |
- | - | - | 1.0 | 1 | 3.00 | 0 | 1 | 1.00 |
| 9/25 | vs  |
- | - | - | 1.0 | 0 | 1.80 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 |
| 9/22 | @  |
- | - | - | 1.0 | 1 | 2.25 | 0 | 1 | 1.00 |
| 9/20 | @ |
- | - | - | 1.0 | 0 | 3.00 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 9/17 | @  |
- | - | - | 1.0 | 0 | 4.50 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 |
| 9/12 | vs  |
- | - | - | 0.2 | 0 | 9.00 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 9/10 | vs  |
- | - | - | 1.0 | 3 | 9.00 | 1 | 1 | 4.00 |