Wood has progressed to fielding drills and throwing at 45 feet, and he's expected to take dry swings with the bat Tuesday. He suffered a strained left oblique August 3 and has missed the Nationals' past six contests. Dylan Crews has been handling right field in Wood's absence.

Lovelady won't be eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until Aug. 28, but he could have a shot at returning on or around that date now that he's reached the point in his rehab that he's been able to get back on a mound. Before hitting the shelf June 29 due to a left triceps strain, Lovelady had notched four saves and nine holds while pitching to a 3.91 ERA and 1.87 WHIP in 27 appearances for Washington.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure in July 2024, Gray didn't pitch for the Nationals in 2025 but was able to make three rehab starts in September. He was expected to compete for a rotation spot this spring, but he was diagnosed with a right flexor strain late in camp and opened the season on the 60-day injured list. Updates on Gray's status have been few and far between in the ensuing months while he's conducted his rehab in Florida, but the 28-year-old has finally made enough progress in his throwing program to get back on the mound. He'll still need to eventually face hitters and head out on a rehab assignment before the Nationals activate him in 2026, and if he does end up making it back to the big leagues in September, he may have to settle for a bullpen role.

Manager Blake Butera indicated the organization wasn't overly concerned about Early's health, but the setback might have been the only excuse the Nationals needed to rule the southpaw out from pitching in the majors again this season. Acquired in the Curtis Mead (wrist) deal, Early had a 3.44 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 93:34 K:BB through 91.2 innings for the Red Sox earlier this year. He last saw game action June 30 before landing on the IL with elbow inflammation.

Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Herz had made three rehab starts before he encountered a setback in late June with a left flexor strain. The southpaw logged a 1.17 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB in 7.2 innings on his rehab assignment before getting hurt, so he'll be looking to pick up where he left off. Herz might not rejoin the Nationals until September, if at all, this season, as he still has a ways to go in terms of rebuilding stamina.

Poulin had been on the shelf since July 19 due to a left flexor strain, and his move to the 60-day IL ensures that he'll remain out through Sept. 13. The southpaw's move to the 60-day frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for one of Yovanny Cruz and Jake Bird, two of the four players the Nationals acquired Sunday in the deal that sent Luis Garcia to the Yankees.

Parker moved to the 60-day IL at the start of the month after being diagnosed with a Grade 3 UCL sprain, and the procedure will officially keep him out for the remainder of 2026 and most, if not all, of the 2027 campaign, as well.

The 28-year-old remains firmly behind Keibert Ruiz on the catcher depth chart for the Nats, but Milias has been making a contribution of late while starting a couple times a week. Over his last five games dating back to June 16, the 28-year-old has gone 5-for-18 (.278) with a double, an RBI, three runs and a .381 OBP.

Waldichuk posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 9.1 innings over his five relief appearances with Washington before landing on the injured list April 13 after suffering a left forearm injury. The southpaw received a couple of medical opinions in the week following the injury and ultimately decided to undergo Tommy John surgery for the second time in just under two years, after he previously had the procedure in May 2024. Waldichuk also underwent a flexor tendon repair as part of the operation.