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Nationals' DJ Herz: Charged with loss in season debut
Rotowire
Herz (0-1) took the loss Monday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over four innings against the Tigers. He struck out four.
Herz ran into trouble early, surrendering a pair of runs in the first inning and two more runs in the fourth before departing at 63 pitches (39 strikes). While the results were uneven, it was a positive step for the southpaw to be back on a big-league mound for the first time since 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2025. The 25-year-old is tentatively scheduled to take the ball again Sunday against the Mets to close the regular season, potentially with a slightly elevated workload.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Set to return from IL, start Monday
Rotowire
Herz (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Monday's contest against the Tigers, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.
Herz will make his return to the major-league roster after he had been on the shelf since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2025. Since restarting his minor-league rehab assignment Aug. 8, the southpaw posted a 19:7 K:BB, 4.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 18 innings across stops with three different affiliates. He most recently covered 4.1 innings and 65 pitches with Triple-A Rochester on Sept. 11, so he could be somewhat limited from a workload perspective Monday in his 2026 Nationals debut.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Activated ahead of Monday's start
Rotowire
The Nationals activated Herz (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Herz is set to start Monday's game against the Tigers in what will be his first appearance at the major-league level since 2024, as he's completed the long road back from April 2025 Tommy John surgery. The left-hander made 10 rehab starts, posting a 3.16 ERA and 30:7 K:BB over 25.2 innings. Herz threw 4.1 innings and 65 pitches in his last start Sept. 11, so he'll be on a relatively limited workload versus the Tigers.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Capped at two innings again in rehab
Rotowire
Herz (elbow) struck out two and allowed one hit and two walks over two scoreless innings in a rehab start Thursday with Double-A Harrisburg.
After Herz underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2025 and then suffered a left flexor strain this past June, the Nationals have been having him ramp up slowly since he began his rehab assignment earlier this month. Through three outings between Single-A Fredericksburg and Harrisburg, the southpaw has yet to permit a run, but he's been limited to five total innings in those appearances. The 33 pitches he threw Thursday marked a new season high for Herz, but he would need to push that count up to the 70-to-80 range before becoming a viable option for the Washington rotation.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Fires two innings in rehab start
Rotowire
Herz (elbow) struck out two over two perfect innings in his rehab start Friday with Double-A Harrisburg.
Since restarting his rehab assignment earlier this month after recovering from a flexor strain, Herz has piled up five strikeouts over three scoreless frames. Before bringing Herz back from the 60-day injured list, the Nationals are likely to have him build up gradually over at least two more rehab appearances, as the left-hander previously underwent Tommy John surgery last April. Depending on how he fares in subsequent outings in the minors, Herz could have a spot in the rotation waiting for him once he's activated.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Cleared to resume rehab assignment
Rotowire
Herz (elbow) will resume his rehab assignment Saturday at Single-A Fredericksburg, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
Coming back from April 2025 Tommy John surgery, Herz had made three rehab starts in June before he encountered a setback and was diagnosed with a left flexor strain. The southpaw logged a 1.17 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB in 7.2 innings on his rehab assignment before getting hurt, so he'll be looking to pick up where he left off as he returns to action in the minors for the first time in nearly two months. Herz might not be ready to rejoin the Nationals until September, as he still has a ways to go in terms of building up his pitch count.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Recovering from flexor strain
Rotowire
Herz (elbow) was diagnosed Monday with a left flexor strain, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.
It's a significant setback for Herz, who has been working his way back from April 2025 Tommy John surgery. The left-hander posted a 1.17 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB in 7.2 innings covering his first three rehab starts, potentially setting him up for activation around the All-Star break. After suffering the flexor strain, however, Herz will be out indefinitely.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Suffers setback in rehab
Rotowire
Nationals manager Blake Butera said that Herz (elbow) won't make a rehab start Sunday with Single-A Fredericksburg as planned after experiencing forearm tightness following his most recent outing Tuesday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
Just over 15 months removed from Tommy John surgery, Herz had looked good over his first three rehab starts between Fredericksburg and the rookie-level Florida Complex League, turning in a 1.17 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB in 7.2 innings. The southpaw appeared to be tracking toward consideration for a spot in the big-league rotation upon his return from the 60-day injured list, but the setback will muddle his outlook. Herz will likely be shut down at least a couple of weeks before resuming mound work.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Nearly perfect through two starts
Rotowire
Herz (elbow) struck out four batters over three scoreless innings in his second rehab start Thursday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.
On the comeback trail following April 2025 Tommy John surgery, Herz hasn't exhibited any signs of rust through his first two rehab starts. He's struck out eight over five scoreless frames in the FCL thus far, with the lone baserunner he's allowed reaching on a fielding error. The left-hander is expected to need the full 30-day rehab window to build up his pitch count, so he'll likely make three more starts in the minors before returning from the 60-day injured list and potentially entering the Washington rotation.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Herz (elbow) was sent to the FCL Nationals on Friday to begin a rehab assignment.
Herz is ready to pitch in a game for the first time since undergoing April 2025 Tommy John surgery. The left-hander will need to use most, if not all, of his allotted 30 days on a rehab assignment, and it's not a given he'll rejoin the major-league club immediately after being activated. Herz is an intriguing long-term arm, however, after striking out 106 over 88.2 innings covering 19 starts for the Nationals in 2024.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Facing hitters
Rotowire
Herz (elbow) will throw to live hitters Friday at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
It's a big milestone for Herz, who will be facing hitters for the first time since he had Tommy John surgery last April. A rehab assignment shouldn't be too far off for the lefty, and Herz is likely looking at a return around midseason if his rehab continues at its current trajectory.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Back on mound Friday
Rotowire
Herz (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
It's the first time the left-hander has thrown from the bump since he underwent Tommy John surgery last April. Herz has already been placed on the 60-day injured list, and given where he is in his throwing program, a return around midseason is probably a best-case scenario.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: In midst of throwing program
Rotowire
The Nationals announced Wednesday that Herz (elbow) is continuing to progress in his throwing program, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Back on Feb. 21, MLB.com reported that Herz had been playing catch at a distance up to 150 feet, but it's unclear if he remains limited to throwing off flat ground or if he's since graduated to throwing off a mound. Regardless, after landing on the 60-day injured list, Herz is slated to miss the first two months of the 2026 campaign -- and likely some additional time beyond that -- while he continues to work his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent April 16, 2025.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Placed on 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Herz (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The move clears a spot on Washington's 40-man roster for Miles Mikolas, who signed a one-year deal with the club Wednesday. It's unclear how close Herz is to beginning a throwing program after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April, but he's likely to be sidelined for at least most of the season's first half.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Gets Tommy John surgery Wednesday
Rotowire
Nationals manager Dave Martinez confirmed that Herz (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday in Dallas, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
TalkNats.com was first to report earlier Wednesday that Herz had decided to undergo the season-ending procedure, though it wasn't immediately clear when the surgery would take place. Rather than scheduling surgery for a later date, Herz elected to have the operation performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, whom he had recently visited for a second opinion on the partially torn UCL in his left elbow. Martinez noted that Herz's surgery didn't involve the insertion of an internal brace, so he'll likely be in line for a 14-to-18-month rehab process rather than a 12- or 13-month recovery. The 24-year-old is thus unlikely to be ready to contribute for the Nationals until around the middle of the 2026 season.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Headed for Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Herz (elbow) plans to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, TalkNats.com reports.
After being diagnosed with a partial UCL sprain in his left elbow shortly before Opening Day, Herz was shut down for three weeks with the hope that some extended rest and rehab would allow him to pitch through the injury. Ultimately, after receiving two additional medical opinions on his elbow, Herz has decided that surgery is his best option. Herz will likely go under the knife in the coming days, and assuming no other additional damage is detected during surgery beyond the compromised UCL, he should be able to pitch again at some point around the All-Star break next season.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Getting second opinion on elbow
Rotowire
Herz will receive a second opinion on his injured left elbow from Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Herz has been diagnosed with a sprained UCL, and he will determine after his visit with Dr. Meister whether to undergo surgery or attempt to rest and rehab the injury. If the southpaw does go under the knife, he could be sidelined until around the middle of next season.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Nationals transferred Herz (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
Herz was diagnosed with a sprained UCL in his left elbow Tuesday, which typically leads to season-ending surgery. The 24-year-old southpaw may attempt to rehab the injury before resorting to surgery, but he's due for an extended absence either way. He'll cede his spot on the 40-man roster to right-hander Brad Lord, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Rochester.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Diagnosed with elbow UCL sprain
Rotowire
Herz was diagnosed Tuesday with a left elbow UCL sprain, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Herz's velocity was down this spring, which originally attributed to a "dead arm" phase. However, as it turns out, he's dealing with an injury that often requires season-ending UCL surgery, although it's not yet clear whether Herz might try the rest-and-rehab route first. At minimum, the lefty is likely to be out a few months, and in all likelihood, much longer.
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