Washington optioned Herz to the Florida Complex League Nationals on Friday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
With Herz not scheduled to start during the weekend series against the Phillies, the Nationals will switch out the 23-year-old southpaw for long reliever Jackson Rutledge. Herz started 19 games for the Nationals this season, posting a 4-9 record with a 4.16 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 106:36 K:BB across 88.2 innings. He was briefly sent down to Triple-A Rochester in early July, but he returned to the big club after the All-Star break. Since his recall, his numbers slightly improved to a 3.61 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 57.1 frames.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Allows one run in loss
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Herz (4-9) took the loss against the Royals on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts over five innings.
Herz threw 52 of 81 pitches for strikes and yielded just one run in the third inning, but the Nationals' offense wasn't able to muster any support for the rookie. While he endured a seven-run disaster in his most recent outing prior to Wednesday, the southpaw yielded just two earned runs across 15 innings in his other three September starts. He'll finish his first season with a 4.16 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and an impressive 10.8 K/9 across 88.2 innings.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Crumbles in fourth inning
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Herz (4-8) took the loss Wednesday versus the Mets, allowing seven runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five over 3.1 innings.
Herz cruised through three innings, but he was pulled after allowing the first eight batters to reach in the fourth. He had already given up four runs at the time of his exit, and Jacob Barnes let all three inherited runners cross the plate to put more damage on Herz's line. This was the southpaw's worst outing of the year, though he was able to avoid giving up a home run for the fifth time in six appearances. He's now at a 4.30 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 103:33 K:BB through 83.2 innings over 18 starts. His next projected start will likely be his last one of the campaign, which is tentatively set to be at home versus the Royals.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Earns fourth win
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Herz (4-7) yielded a run on four hits and a walk over five innings Friday, striking out five and earning a win over the Marlins.
Herz turned in three scoreless frames before coughing up a solo homer to Otto Lopez in the fourth inning. It was Herz's second straight win after going 0-3 over his previous five outings. He hasn't thrown six innings in a start since Aug. 14 but has registered a 2.49 ERA over five appearances since then. Herz owns a 3.70 ERA with a 98:30 K:BB through 80.1 innings this season. He's projected for a road matchup with the Mets next week.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Fires five hitless frames
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Herz (3-7) earned the win over Pittsburgh in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, issuing three walks and striking out five batters over five hitless and scoreless innings.
Herz walked one batter in each of his first three frames, but each was with two outs, and none of those batters reached second base. The rookie left-hander finished his outing by retiring the final seven hitters he faced, with four going down on strikeouts. A no-hitter was never really feasible for Herz since he needed 87 pitches to get through five innings, but some fantasy managers may be a little disappointed that he wasn't allowed to remain in the game for the sixth to try for a quality start. Regardless, this was an impressive performance by the 23-year-old, who has more than held his own in his first major-league campaign with a 3.82 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 93:29 K:BB over 75.1 frames.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Start pushed to Saturday
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Herz will not start Friday against the Pirates as the game has been postponed due to inclement weather.
Friday's tilt will be made up Saturday as part of a doubleheader, and Herz will likely pitch in the first game. The southpaw is 2-7 across 15 starts this season with a 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 88:26 K:BB in 70.1 innings.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Struggles late in loss
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Herz (2-7) took the loss against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Herz cruised through four scoreless innings but then hit a wall in a four-run fifth frame. It was the first time in eight outings since the All-Star break that the rookie allowed more than two earned runs, though he has only pitched deep enough to earn one quality start in that span. On the season, Herz owns a 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 88:26 K:BB across 70.1 innings and lines up to face the Pirates next weekend.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Throws five shutout innings
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Herz didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Atlanta, allowing one hit and three walks across five scoreless innings. He struck out eight.
Herz was excellent Sunday but wasn't rewarded with the win as Atlanta tied the game 1-1 in the sixth inning before Washington pulled ahead late. The outing marked Herz's third time not allowing an earned run, and he hit the eight-strikeout milestone for the fourth time in 14 starts. The 23-year-old has had issues keeping the ball inside the park -- posting a 1.4 HR/9 across 65.2 innings -- but he's otherwise been impressive. The rookie boasts a 3.84 ERA with 83 strikeouts despite a 2-6 record. Herz is tentatively scheduled to make his next start during a weekend series against the Cubs.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Strikes out seven in loss
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Herz (2-6) took the loss against the Rockies on Tuesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts across 5.2 innings.
Herz generated a solid 13 whiffs on 93 pitches but departed an out shy of his second straight quality start. While he only has one win to show for it, the rookie has yielded two earned runs or fewer in seven of his past eight outings. On the year, he owns a 4.15 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 75:21 K:BB across 60.2 innings and tentatively lines up to face Atlanta on Sunday.
Nationals' DJ Herz: Stuck with loss in quality start
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Herz (2-5) took the loss Wednesday, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings in a 4-1 loss to the Orioles. He struck out five.
A two-run homer by Gunnar Henderson in the first inning proved to be too much for the Nationals' offense to overcome, saddling Herz with the loss despite his first quality start since June 15. The rookie southpaw has mostly been reliable of late, allowing two runs or less in six of seven starts since the beginning of July while posting a 3.48 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 41:12 K:BB through 33.2 innings, but he has just a 1-3 record to show for it. Herz will try to get back in the win column in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Rockies.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Struggles with command
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Herz did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over 2.2 innings against the Giants. He struck out four.
Herz struggled with his control, tossing just 39 of 74 pitches for strikes while walking a season-high four batters in his shortest outing of the campaign. It was the fourth consecutive game Herz has given up two runs or fewer, though he was able to complete five innings in each of his previous three starts. The promising 23-year-old lefty's total of four strikeouts gives him 63 over 49 innings to go along with a 4.41 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. His next opportunity to take the hill is tentatively scheduled for next week when the Nationals head to Baltimore for a two-game set.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Strikes out six in win
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Herz (2-4) earned the win against the Brewers on Saturday, allowing one unearned run on two hits and one walk with six strikeouts over five innings.
Herz opened with four scoreless frames before Sal Frelick reached on an error and came around to score with two outs in the fifth. The rookie was pulled after 77 pitches and has completed six innings just once in 10 starts, but he has yielded two earned runs or fewer in four of his past five outings. On the season, he owns a 4.27 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 59:13 K:BB across 46.1 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Giants next week.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Fans eight in no-decision
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Herz allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out eight over five innings in a no-decision versus the Cardinals on Sunday.
Herz gave up loud contact early, allowing a solo home run to Willson Contreras in the first inning and an RBI triple to Pedro Pages in the second. It got better after that, as Herz retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced and ended with 56 of 79 pitches landing for strikes. The southpaw has pitched into the sixth inning just twice through nine starts, but he's been able to complete five frames in three of his last four outings. He's posted a 4.79 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 53:12 K:BB over 41.1 innings in the majors this year. He's fared well enough to stay in the rotation and is tentatively projected for a tough home start versus the Brewers in his next appearance.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Staying in rotation
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Herz is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals in St. Louis, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Herz was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on July 8, though his demotion always looked to be the result of the Nationals wanting to maintain more flexibility with their active roster heading into the All-Star break. He rejoined the big club when a fifth starter was needed for the first time in the second half Tuesday and worked five innings in a loss to the Padres, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four. Herz will take a 1-4 record and 4.95 ERA into his ninth start of the season with the Nationals on Sunday.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Gets little help against Friars
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Herz (1-4) took the loss Tuesday as the Nationals fell 4-0 to the Padres, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four.
The rookie southpaw was locked in a pitchers' duel with Randy Vasquez early, but Herz faltered in the fifth inning, serving up back-to-back solo shots to Luis Arraez and Jurickson Profar. It was only the second time in Herz's last five big-league starts that he even managed to complete five innings, and while he has a 45:11 K:BB through his first 36.1 innings for the Nats, eight homers allowed have saddled him with a 4.95 ERA. Herz is scheduled to make his next start on the road this weekend in St. Louis.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Drawing start Tuesday
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The Nationals recalled Herz from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The left-hander will start Tuesday's game against the Padres. Herz was sent down earlier this month mostly as a means to give him some extra rest around the All-Star break. The left-hander should have a decent chance to remain in the Nationals' rotation for the remainder of the season. Herz holds a 5.17 ERA and 41:9 K:BB over 31.1 innings covering seven starts in the majors this season, which includes a pair of double-digit strikeout games.
The Nationals optioned Herz to Triple-A Rochester on Monday.
Unless the Nationals place another player on the injured list in a corresponding move, Herz won't be eligible to rejoin Washington for another 15 days. Though Herz was tagged for five runs (four earned) in 4.1 innings in his most recent start in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com suggests that the left-hander's demotion likely isn't a result of the Nationals being dissatisfied with his performance. Instead, Washington is likely just giving him some extra rest ahead of the All-Star break, with Herz being a candidate to rejoin the big-league rotation when a fifth starter is needed to begin the second half of the season. Washington recalled right-hander Joan Adon from Triple-A to replace Herz on the 26-man active roster and provide a fresh arm out of the bullpen in the short term.
