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MIAMI – When MacKenzie Gore said Tuesday he planned on pitching again this season, he actually meant he planned on pitching again this week.
Nationals interim manager Miguel Cairo announced today that Gore, having recovered from left shoulder inflammation, will be activated off the 15-day injured list Thursday and start his team’s series finale against the Marlins.
“I think it was good to just let him make sure his shoulder was fine, and it wasn’t that bad,” Cairo said. “I’m glad that he’s back, and he’s going to start tomorrow.”
It’s a rapid return for Gore, who was placed on the IL on Aug. 30 (retroactive to Aug. 27). He expressed optimism all along the move was only precautionary and that he’d back pitching for the Nats as soon as possible.
Turns out he’ll be pitching on the first day he’s eligible to return, having completed a bullpen session Tuesday at loanDepot Park with no issues and declaring himself ready to go.
“Obviously, we’ve got to be smart, but I plan on pitching again,” Gore said Tuesday. “It’s just getting everybody together and figuring out when that is.”
The 26-year-old, who made the first Opening Day start of his career this season, was named a National League All-Star after delivering a 3.02 ERA and then-league-leading 138 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings during the first half. He struggled after that, though, with a 7.54 ERA and only 35 strikeouts in 37 innings over his next eight starts before reporting shoulder soreness following his Aug. 26 outing at Yankee Stadium.
An MRI revealed only inflammation of the shoulder, but the Nationals decided not to take any chances with Gore and placed him on the 15-day IL to give him some time to recover and restrengthen the shoulder. Because he was able to resume throwing within a few days and then throw off a mound this week, he’s able to return without first facing live hitters.
“He’s going to be fine,” Cairo said. “I’m glad that he’s back, and he’s going to be able to help us tomorrow.”
Andrew Alvarez, who made the first two starts of his big league career in Gore’s place, has now been pushed back to Friday night’s series opener against the Pirates. With a day-night doubleheader coming Tuesday against the Braves, the Nationals are likely to use a six-man rotation for now, dropping a reliever from the active roster when Gore is activated Thursday. Once they get through the doubleheader, they could drop a starter and add another reliever.
* Riley Adams is feeling significantly better today after being forced out of Tuesday night’s game when he took a foul ball off his groin. The 29-year-old catcher is not in tonight’s lineup but should be available off the bench if the need arises, and he’s likely to be back in the lineup Thursday to serve as Gore’s batterymate.
* The Nationals will send eight prospects to the Arizona Fall League next month, a list that includes recent draft picks Seaver King and Ethan Petry.
King, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 Draft, will be among the younger players in the AFL at 22. The infielder has made a quick rise through the minors, starting this season at Single-A Wilmington and getting promoted to Double-A Harrisburg. In 121 total games, he’s batting .243 with 19 doubles, four triples, six homers, 40 RBIs and 29 stolen bases.
Petry, the Nats’ second round pick this summer, is even younger at 21 and has played only 24 games as a professional for Single-A Fredericksburg. The slugging outfielder/first baseman owns an .800 OPS through his first 101 plate appearances with the FredNats.
Others selected to participate in the AFL are left-handers Jake Bennett, Pablo Aldonis and Jared Simpson; right-handers Sean Paul Liñan and Austin Amaral; and outfielder Sam Peterson.
