Williams (elbow) is scheduled to be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Friday against the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The right-hander has been sidelined since late May due to a flexor strain, but he's ready to rejoin the Nationals after making two rehab starts with Double-A Harrisburg. Williams threw 73 pitches in the most recent outing, so any workload limitations shouldn't be significant. He was off to the best start of his career prior to the injury with a 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB across 56.2 innings.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Expected back this weekend
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Williams (elbow) is on track to return from the 60-day injured list this weekend versus the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Williams allowed two runs over 7.1 innings in two rehab starts with Double-A Harrisburg, throwing 73 pitches in his most recent outing Sunday. He should be lined up to start Friday in Chicago, although the exact date for his return hasn't been revealed yet. Williams has been sidelined since late May with a right flexor strain. He had collected a 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB through 56.2 innings before getting injured.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Set for rehab start Tuesday
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Williams (elbow) will make a rehab start for Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday and remains confident he'll pitch again for the Nationals before the end of the season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The right-hander is expected to throw about four innings and build up to 65-to-70 pitches Tuesday. Nationals manager Dave Martinez hinted that Williams might need to make a second rehab start before being activated from the 60-day injured list, with 80 pitches as the target. Williams landed on the IL after a May 30 start against Atlanta due to a right flexor strain, but the pending free agent was having an outstanding campaign to that point, posting a 5-0 record in 11 starts with a 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB through 56.2 innings. He could return to the Washington rotation for a road series against the Cubs that runs Sept. 19 through 22.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Goes to 60-day IL
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The Nationals transferred Williams (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
Williams had been on the 15-day IL since June 4 while recovering from a right flexor strain, so his move to the 60-day IL won't influence his timeline for a return. The right-hander is still on track to be activated before season's end, as he threw 43 pitches in live batting practice Saturday while averaging around 88-to-89 miles per hour with his fastball, per MLB.com. The Nationals plan to have Williams get stretched out to around 50 or 60 pitches through live sessions or minor-league rehab games before bringing him back from the IL, but he may have to settle for a bullpen role after starting in each of his 11 appearances with Washington before being deactivated.
Manager Dave Martinez said Williams (elbow) will throw to live hitters Saturday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Williams has been on the shelf since June 4 with a right flexor strain and has been cleared to throw against hitters. Considering the lengthy layoff, the 32-year-old will likely require a minor-league rehab assignment. It's unclear if he'll have enough time to be stretched out and rejoin the Nationals rotation.
Williams (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
It's the first mound work for the veteran right-hander since he landed on the IL at the end of May with a right flexor muscle strain. Williams threw 20 pitches, all fastballs, and he's still several weeks away from rejoining the Nationals' staff. His timeline could be shortened if the team elects to bring him back as a reliever, and with the 32-year-old set to become a free agent after the season, Washington has little incentive to bump a younger option from the rotation in favor of Williams.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Not yet ready for mound work
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Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Friday that Williams (elbow) remains limited to throwing off flat ground, adding that it will "be a while" before the right-hander gets back on the mound, MLB.com reports. "He is feeling better, it's just been a slow process," Martinez said.
Despite not heading into spring training with a guaranteed rotation spot, Williams was one of the Nationals' top pitchers over the first two months of the season, accruing a 2.22 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across his 11 starts. He was then diagnosed with a right flexor muscle strain in early June and has struggled to shake off the injury, as he's still not progressed to mound work two months later. Even if Williams is given the green light to throw bullpen sessions within the next few days, he'll still need several weeks to get fully stretched back out for starting duty. Williams doesn't look like he'll be a realistic option for the Washington rotation until September, and he might be brought back as a reliever if his rehab process remains slow over the next few weeks.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Limited to playing catch
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Williams (elbow) resumed playing catch from 60 feet earlier this month but remains without a clear timeline for a return from the 15-day injured list, MLB.com reports.
Before landing on the IL on June 4 with a right flexor muscle strain, Williams had been a pleasant surprise for the Nationals this season with a 5-0 record, 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB in 56.2 innings. While the strong form he displayed prior to getting hurt should be enough for him to reclaim a rotation spot once he's activated from the IL, Williams' return still looks to be multiple weeks down the road. He'll eventually need to resume throwing off a mound and facing hitters in live batting practice before embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being reinstated from the IL.
Williams (elbow) has yet to start a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Williams was placed on the 15-day IL on June 4 with a right flexor strain but remains shut down from throwing. It's safe to assume Williams won't be able to return until after the All-Star break. DJ Herz should continue to make starts in place of Williams.
Nationals' Trevor Williams: Lands on IL with flexor strain
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The Nationals placed Williams on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right flexor strain, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Williams had been slated to start Tuesday's game against the Mets but now will be sidelined for at least two weeks, and quite likely longer. The veteran right-hander has been a pleasant surprise for the Nationals this season, collecting a 2.22 ERA in 11 starts. DJ Herz was called up from Triple-A Rochester and will start Tuesday in Williams' stead.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Remains undefeated
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Williams (5-0) picked up the win over Atlanta on Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings while striking out four.
The right-hander was able to keep Atlanta's lineup at bay for most of the contest, allowing just one run in the bottom of the third inning after surrendering a leadoff triple to Jarred Kelenic. Williams induced 12 whiffs on the night and retired nine straight batters over his final frames before an Ozzie Albies single sent him to the showers after 95 pitches. Williams has not allowed more than one earned run in eight of his 11 starts this season while also going at least five innings in all but one start.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Ties season high with eight Ks
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Williams allowed one run on five hits over five innings in a no-decision against the Mariners on Saturday. He struck out eight without walking a batter.
The only blemish was a solo shot given up to Julio Rodriguez in the fifth inning. It's incredible what Williams is doing after years of mediocrity. As Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com notes, Williams has yet to allow more than three runs in a start this season, and he's allowed one run or zero in seven of his 10 starts for a 2.29 ERA over 51 total innings. The track record and lack of whiffs make Williams tough to trust, but the 32-year-old is keeping the ball on the ground and helping create his own good fortune.
