ATLANTA – Julian Fernández was supposed to be on a 10 a.m. flight this morning back home to the Dominican Republic. Instead, he flew to Atlanta on Monday night to join the Nationals ahead of their second game against the Braves.

The right-handed reliever, who the Nats claimed off waivers from the Dodgers on Aug. 17, then found himself taking the mound at Truist Park in the bottom of the eighth inning, trying to keep it a 3-2 game against the heart of the Braves order and give his new team one more chance in the ninth.

Fernández proceeded to toss a perfect frame on a scant 13 pitches, striking out Ronald Acuña Jr. and Drake Baldwin with some high heat in the process.

It was a full-circle moment for the 28-year-old, who made his major league debut with the Rockies against the Braves in 2021, the first of only six appearances he would make that season before making just one this year with the Dodgers.

“I felt really good,” Fernández said, via interpreter Mauricio Ortiz. “I haven't pitched in a while, a couple of days. But I kept myself ready for this. Yesterday was really special because I made my debut against Atlanta back in '21. It's a great team and I was able to have a good performance.”

ATLANTA – The Nationals ended the season for two more pitchers this afternoon, placing MacKenzie Gore and Mason Thompson on the 15-day injured list with only five games to go.

Gore landed on the IL with a right ankle impingement after it came about during his start last week on a rainy, cold Tuesday night at Nationals Park. He started last night’s series opener against the Braves, but only lasted two-plus innings. After allowing the first two batters in the third inning to reach while reaching 71 total pitches, interim manager Miguel Cairo thought that was enough for the 26-year-old left-hander, who had mentioned the ankle was still bothering him.

“It happened the last game when it was wet over there at home,” Cairo said during his pregame media session. “He felt it a little bit. He went through it. He toughened (through it) a little bit. And we didn't want to risk anything. It's not worth it right now. He had a really good season. Now it's time for him to just chill out and make sure this is fine. Just look forward to the offseason and have a great offseason, work hard and come back ready. He did really amazing things this year.”

Gore finishes the year 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA, 185 strikeouts, 1.353 WHIP and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings in 159 ⅔ innings over 30 starts. He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career after going 4-8 with a 3.02 ERA, 1.196 WHIP and 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings over his first 19 starts. But he ended the year 1-7 with a 6.75 ERA, 1.703 WHIP and 8.6 K/9 over his last 11 outings.

“He had a great year,” Cairo said. “Everyone goes through the ups and downs of the season. He had a really good first half. He went to the All-Star Game, pitched really well and came back. They all get a little tired and they go to rough spots, but he pitched unbelievable.”