James Wood’s night ended early Monday, and the Nationals are now waiting on an MRI to tell them how bad it is.
Wood was pulled from the field in the eighth inning against the Phillies after feeling something in his left side on a swing in the sixth. After the game, Nationals manager Blake Butera said Wood would undergo an MRI on his left side.
The concern is an oblique injury, and that could mean a multi-week absence. Fantasy managers will be watching for a Tuesday update.
The 23-year-old has been a force at the plate, hitting .265/.393/.535 with 30 homers, 100 runs scored, 73 RBI, and 17 steals across 535 plate appearances.
The Rays, meanwhile, are dealing with Shane McClanahan on the injured list after he was pulled three innings into his start against the Rangers last Thursday with lower back tightness. Tampa Bay placed him on the 15-day injured list the next day with mid-back tightness.
President of baseball operations Erik Neander described it as “pretty minor,” and the hope is that McClanahan misses only a couple of starts. That fits the Rays’ situation at the top of the AL East, especially after they acquired Freddy Peralta from the Mets.
McClanahan has been sharp in his first season back since 2023, posting a 3.09 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts over 99 innings.
Out in Milwaukee, Kyle Harrison looks ready to come off the injured list this week after clearing one more hurdle. He threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings for High-A Wisconsin on Thursday, allowing one hit, walking three, and striking out five on 68 pitches.
Harrison felt good afterward, and he’s expected to return against the Pirates on Wednesday or Thursday. He has been out since July 11 with left forearm tightness.
With Harrison coming back and Dustin May arriving in a trade with the Cardinals, Milwaukee could turn to a six-man rotation to keep everyone fresh for the playoff push.
Brendan Donovan has also finished his minor league rehab assignment and is set to be activated from the injured list on Tuesday for Seattle’s series opener against the Tigers. He’s been sidelined since mid-May with a groin injury and has played only 25 games, but he returns with a .274/.386/.452 line, three homers, and 101 plate appearances.
The Dodgers made another roster move around Dalton Rushing, who was scratched from Sunday’s lineup against the Red Sox with what was called a minor arm injury. He then sat again Monday against the Cubs, and shortly after, he landed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Los Angeles also added catching depth with Ben Rortvedt at the trade deadline. Will Smith is still expected to be out for a couple more weeks after resuming baseball activities last week; he’s been sidelined since early June with a neck injury.
Matt Chapman is still working his way back from the abdomen injury that has kept him out since early July, but there’s no clear timeline yet. He met with team doctors and then underwent an MRI on Monday because he still has trouble running. More should be known in the coming days.
Casey Schmitt’s season is likely over after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The 27-year-old infielder had put together a breakout year before the injury, hitting .271/.301/.483 with 21 homers over 409 plate appearances.
Spencer Schwellenbach is still aiming for a September debut, but that timeline leaves little room for much impact this season. The 26-year-old right-hander said Friday that he remains optimistic, though he still has a couple bullpen sessions left before facing hitters.
From there, he’d likely need a rehab assignment in mid-to-late August and then several starts before he could join the Braves. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 28, 2025, because of elbow issues.
Blake Snell is getting close to the finish line in his rehab work. He struck out nine over four scoreless innings in his third rehab start last Wednesday with Low-A Ontario and is scheduled for one final tune-up Tuesday, with a goal of reaching 75 pitches before joining the Dodgers rotation.
Snell made one start this season for Los Angeles before surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow in May. Tyler Glasnow is also nearing a return.
He’ll make his first rehab start with Low-A Ontario on Tuesday after completing two live batting practice sessions. Glasnow has been out since May 6 with back issues and will likely need several outings before a possible return later in August.
Nick Lodolo is headed back into a rehab assignment as well after blister problems on his left index finger flared up before the All-Star break. He threw a bullpen session last week and is now set to start at Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday, with a pitch target of 60 to 65. Even when healthy, Lodolo has not been as effective this season, putting up a 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts over 62 2/3 innings.
In Other News...
Rays Added One More Outfielder But His Role Is The Real Story
The Rays added another name to their outfield mix late in the lead-up to the 2026 MLB trade deadline, bringing in Jack Suwinski from the Dodgers in a move that also sent Hunter Fuduccia and Jacob Kmatz out of the organization. Suwinski brings major league experience with him, but most of his time this season has come at the Triple-A level, which fits the kind of depth-and-flexibility approach Tampa Bay has long favored when it starts shopping near the deadline.
What makes the deal interesting for the Rays is less the addition itself than the role Suwinski might fill once he arrives. Tampa Bay has been active in the market, and this was its fourth move before the deadline, a sign the front office is still looking for useful pieces rather than just headline names. The club also added international bonus pool money in the trade, leaving the door open for more maneuvering as the deadline picture keeps taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Fans Will Have Strong Feelings About This Dodgers Deadline Deal
A late deadline move with a familiar feel sent Hunter Feduccia and Jacob Kmatz to Los Angeles as the Dodgers looked for help behind the plate and on the mound after injuries hit catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing. For Tampa Bay, it was another reminder of how quickly the roster churn can work this time of year, especially when a player like Feduccia comes full circle after already spending time in the Dodgers organization before landing with the Rays.
The return centered on outfielder Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money, which gives Tampa Bay a different kind of asset to work with as it keeps managing both the present roster and the pipeline behind it. Kmatz, a recent Rays draft pick, adds another layer of short-term sting to the deal for fans who like to track the development side as closely as the major league results, and this one figures to prompt plenty of second-guessing on both ends. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Catcher Shuffle Created An Opportunity Kevin Piper Wont Forget
The Rays catching depth took another unexpected turn this week, and it opened the door for a moment Kevin Piper is not likely to forget. Tampa Bay had just acquired Liam Hicks from the Miami Marlins, only for Hicks to arrive in Denver a day late, and the club had also sent Hunter Feduccia to the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving a temporary void behind the plate as the team settled in at Coors Field.
With the Rays needing coverage in a hurry, Piper was pulled from standby and given the kind of chance players wait around for. He was on the scene but still not officially called up when manager Kevin Cash reached out and got him over to the ballpark, and Piper ended up starting a game in one of baseballs most unpredictable settings. For a catcher caught in a sudden shuffle, it was the sort of assignment that can linger long after the trip ends. [Read more 🡒]