Kyle

McGowin

McGowin last appeared in the big leagues back in 2021 when he made a career-high 27 relief appearances for the Nationals. The 32-year-old righty signed a minor league pact with the Cubs back in early May after a stint with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the independent Atlantic League

McGowin is back in affiliated ball following a stint this season with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the independent Atlantic League. The 32-year-old journeyman righty last appeared in the majors back in 2021 when he made a career-high 27 relief appearances for the Nationals.

McGowin inked a minor league contract with the Astros back in mid-May after a successful outing with the Staten Island Ferry Hawks of the independent Atlantic League. The 31-year-old righty wound up struggling to a bloated 7.36 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 58/29 K/BB ratio across 62 1/3 innings (16 appearances, nine starts) for Triple-A Sugar Land.

McGowin last pitched in the majors during the 2021 campaign when he made a career-high 27 relief appearances for the Nationals. The 31-year-old righty struck out 11 batters over five hitless innings in his lone start for the Staten Island Ferry Hawks of the independent Atlantic League before signing last week with the Astros. He’ll serve as extra starting pitching depth at Triple-A Sugar Land.

McGowin is no longer on the Nationals’ 40-man roster after passing through waivers unclaimed earlier this week. He will most likely elect free agency. The 29-year-old righty posted a pedestrian 4.20 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 35/14 K/BB ratio across 30 innings (27 appearances) last season.

The Nationals needed to clear a 40-man roster spot for lefty Josh Rogers to start the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Mets, so McGowin was the logical move. The 29-year-old righty was placed on the injured list with a UCL sprain in his right elbow earlier this week and is done for the remainder of the 2021 campaign.

McGowin missed most of July and August due to biceps tendinitis and now is dealing with a UCL issue. Not good. It’s unlikely he’ll return this season and obviously his 2022 campaign could be in doubt as well depending on the severity of the injury.

The right-hander has been sidelined since July 11 with biceps tendinitis and will return to a 4.56 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 25 2/3 innings. Washington optioned Andrew Stevenson in a corresponding move.

McGowin left Saturday’s outing with the team trainer, and now it looks like we know why. Andres Machado was summoned from Triple-A to replace him in the Nationals bullpen for the final game of the first half.

McGowin has been an up-and-down player for the Nats this year but has appeared in 22 games. The right-hander will get at least six days off now, but it’s also possible that McGowin is placed on the injured list to bring in a fresh arm.