Barrett, Bourque placed on IL; Hernández, Espino join roster

Aaron Barrett's latest return to the Nationals bullpen came to an abrupt halt due to another injury. And James Bourque's first opportunity to pitch regularly in the big leagues has also been cut short due to injury.

Barrett, who made national headlines last season when he pitched in the majors three years after breaking his arm while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, was placed on the 10-day injured list today with a right triceps strain, one of a flurry of transactions announced by the Nationals in advance of tonight's series opener against the Phillies.

Bourque also was placed on the 10-day IL with a right elbow strain. Taking their spots on the active roster are outfielder Yadiel Hernández (recalled from the alternate training site in Fredericksburg) and right-hander Paulo Espino (contract purchased). To make room on the 40-man roster for Espino, the Nats transferred left-hander Seth Romero to the 60-day IL.

In his Zoom session with reporters earlier this afternoon, manager Davey Martinez hinted an IL stint could be forthcoming for Barrett and said the club was still waiting for news on Bourque.

"He's feeling better, but he's still pretty sore," Martinez said of Barrett. "I would assume we're going to have to do something, but I want to make that assumption until he comes in today and we talk to him."

After spending the majority of this shortened season at the Nationals' alternate training site, Barrett was called up to the majors last week. He impressed in his 2020 debut, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings against the Rays.

But in his next outing, Saturday night against the Marlins, Barrett faced only two batters, walking one and hitting the other, then was visited by Martinez and head athletic trainer Paul Lessard. He departed having thrown only nine pitches.

Bourque, meanwhile, departed Sunday's game in Miami after throwing only four pitches and experiencing pain in the back of his arm. The right-hander was set to undergo an MRI today to determine if there's any structural damage, Martinez said. He has now been diagnosed with an elbow strain, though the extent of that strain hasn't yet been announced.

Barrett and Bourque now join a long list of pitchers on the IL to close out the season. An update on some of them ...

* Tanner Rainey (flexor strain) wouldn't have a chance to return this season unless the Nats make a miracle run this week to reach the playoffs. "He hasn't thrown in a while," Martinez said. "In order for him to get back on a mound and try to build up at this point, I want to be more cautious and say that he's probably done for the year. Unless we win all our games and other teams lose their games and we somehow get in this thing. But for right now, I just want him to focus on getting stronger, build up some strength and then go from there."

* Javy Guerra (hamstring) threw Sunday but reported that he felt the injury again. It seems unlikely he'll return in time.

* Dakota Bacus has a "significant" forearm strain, Martinez said, and is unlikely to return to pitch this season. An MRI did not show any structural damage to the right-hander's elbow, though.

There is one potentially more encouraging injury update involving a veteran position player: Howie Kendrick, on the IL with a strained hamstring, has been running in recent days and "definitely wants to try to finish (the season) on the field," according to Martinez.