Jake

Irvin

Nationals manager Blake Butera told reporters Irwin is going through strengthening exercises, but has yet to begin a throwing progression after hitting the injured list with a shoulder strain back on May 24. The 29-year-old is likely facing an extended absence given the nature of the injury, but remains without a definitive return timeline.

Irvin sustained the injury during Saturday’s start against the Braves. He underwent an MRI exam after that outing, the results of which are not yet known. PJ Poulin was recalled from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move on Sunday.

Irvin threw five no-hit innings without allowing a run, but tightness in his shoulder caused the right-hander to exit. The 29-year-old’s status for his next scheduled start and the foreseeable future will largely be determined by the results of the imaging.

Irvin was dealing before exiting; throwing five no-hitting innings while issuing just a walk and striking out seven. The 29-year-old exited with a trainer, and there should be an update on the specifics of the injury before the end of Saturday’s game.

Irvin gave up five hits, walked one and struck out six. He has a 5.59 ERA on the season now. Irvin allowed an unearned run in the second thanks to an error by James Wood, which allowed Tyrone Taylor to advance to third before a two-out double by Luis Torrens. Another unearned run scored in the fifth inning after Torrens reached on an error and Irvin was removed from the ballgame. He’ll face the Braves on the road this weekend.

Irvin also struck out four in a high-scoring affair. He’s added a sweeper this season and is throwing his cutter more, but it hasn’t made a difference as his ERA sits at 5.91. The entire staff is struggling as Washington entered the day with the second-highest ERA in the National League. Irvin’s next start lines up at home against the Mets.

Ryan Jeffers had a walk and a double against Irvin when the Nationals decided to send their starter back out to face him for a third time to begin the sixth. A homer followed, and Irvin was done for the day. Irvin, who had his strikeout rate up to 25.3 percent for the season, fanned just two today. He’s 1-4 with a 5.22 ERA, and he’s slated to face the Reds next time out.

This was not an easy start for Irvin. The Brewers put at least one runner on base in all five of his innings and more often than not, there was constant traffic. Things got off to an inauspicious start when Garrett Mitchell doubled on the third pitch of the game and then scored on a pass ball just two batters later. His curveball was the only thing working, forcing seven of his eight total swings-and-misses as he placed it well just below the zone. But again, that was basically all he had. He’ll take a 4.93 ERA into his next start against the Twins.

Irvin’s sixth start of the season was his best yet as he held the White Sox scoreless into the sixth inning. He scattered four hits and did not issue a walk while striking out a season-high nine batters on 16 whiffs. The 29-year-old right-hander will take a 4.85 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 34/11 K/BB ratio across 29 2/3 innings into a home start against the Brewers on Friday.

Irvin gave up a two-run homer to Matt Olsen in the fourth. The other runs came in the sixth, which started with a Nasim Nuñez error. Irvin then plunked Ronald Acuña Jr. for a second time on the night and was pulled. Both runners came around to score off PJ Poulin. Irvin threw just 68 pitches on the night. He struck out four and walked none, though he did have those HBPs. He’s 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA, and even with the White Sox next on the schedule, he doesn’t seem like much of a streaming option.