Williams (6-1) earned the win Friday over the Phillies, allowing three hits and two walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out five.
Williams was sharp again Friday -- he's now allowed just one run on six hits across 10 innings in two starts following a four-month stint on the IL with an elbow flexor strain. Despite missing significant time this year, the 32-year-old Williams put up excellent numbers. He'll finish with a 2.03 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 59:18 K:BB across 66.2 innings.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Sharp in return
Rotowire
Williams (5-1) took the loss Friday against the Cubs, allowing one run on three hits across five innings. He struck out seven.
While Williams would ultimately take his first loss of the season, the right-hander seemed to pick up where he left off prior to going on the IL in late May. A Dansby Swanson homer in the first inning proved to be the lone mark against William before he'd blank the Cubs over his final four frames. The 32-year-old Williams boasts a 2.19 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and 54:16 K:BB across 61.2 innings this season. He'll likely make one more start this season, currently scheduled for next week at home versus the Phillies.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Activated ahead of Friday's start
Rotowire
The Nationals activated Williams (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Williams will rejoin the Nationals' rotation Friday with a start against the Cubs after missing nearly four months of action with a right flexor strain. He threw 73 pitches in his most recent rehab start, so Williams should be only slightly limited Friday from a workload perspective. The veteran righty collected a nifty 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB across 56.2 innings before getting hurt.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Making return Friday
Rotowire
Williams (elbow) is scheduled to be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Friday against the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The right-hander has been sidelined since late May due to a flexor strain, but he's ready to rejoin the Nationals after making two rehab starts with Double-A Harrisburg. Williams threw 73 pitches in the most recent outing, so any workload limitations shouldn't be significant. He was off to the best start of his career prior to the injury with a 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB across 56.2 innings.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Expected back this weekend
Rotowire
Williams (elbow) is on track to return from the 60-day injured list this weekend versus the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Williams allowed two runs over 7.1 innings in two rehab starts with Double-A Harrisburg, throwing 73 pitches in his most recent outing Sunday. He should be lined up to start Friday in Chicago, although the exact date for his return hasn't been revealed yet. Williams has been sidelined since late May with a right flexor strain. He had collected a 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB through 56.2 innings before getting injured.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Set for rehab start Tuesday
Rotowire
Williams (elbow) will make a rehab start for Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday and remains confident he'll pitch again for the Nationals before the end of the season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The right-hander is expected to throw about four innings and build up to 65-to-70 pitches Tuesday. Nationals manager Dave Martinez hinted that Williams might need to make a second rehab start before being activated from the 60-day injured list, with 80 pitches as the target. Williams landed on the IL after a May 30 start against Atlanta due to a right flexor strain, but the pending free agent was having an outstanding campaign to that point, posting a 5-0 record in 11 starts with a 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB through 56.2 innings. He could return to the Washington rotation for a road series against the Cubs that runs Sept. 19 through 22.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Goes to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Nationals transferred Williams (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
Williams had been on the 15-day IL since June 4 while recovering from a right flexor strain, so his move to the 60-day IL won't influence his timeline for a return. The right-hander is still on track to be activated before season's end, as he threw 43 pitches in live batting practice Saturday while averaging around 88-to-89 miles per hour with his fastball, per MLB.com. The Nationals plan to have Williams get stretched out to around 50 or 60 pitches through live sessions or minor-league rehab games before bringing him back from the IL, but he may have to settle for a bullpen role after starting in each of his 11 appearances with Washington before being deactivated.
Manager Dave Martinez said Williams (elbow) will throw to live hitters Saturday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Williams has been on the shelf since June 4 with a right flexor strain and has been cleared to throw against hitters. Considering the lengthy layoff, the 32-year-old will likely require a minor-league rehab assignment. It's unclear if he'll have enough time to be stretched out and rejoin the Nationals rotation.
Williams (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
It's the first mound work for the veteran right-hander since he landed on the IL at the end of May with a right flexor muscle strain. Williams threw 20 pitches, all fastballs, and he's still several weeks away from rejoining the Nationals' staff. His timeline could be shortened if the team elects to bring him back as a reliever, and with the 32-year-old set to become a free agent after the season, Washington has little incentive to bump a younger option from the rotation in favor of Williams.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Not yet ready for mound work
Rotowire
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Friday that Williams (elbow) remains limited to throwing off flat ground, adding that it will "be a while" before the right-hander gets back on the mound, MLB.com reports. "He is feeling better, it's just been a slow process," Martinez said.
Despite not heading into spring training with a guaranteed rotation spot, Williams was one of the Nationals' top pitchers over the first two months of the season, accruing a 2.22 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across his 11 starts. He was then diagnosed with a right flexor muscle strain in early June and has struggled to shake off the injury, as he's still not progressed to mound work two months later. Even if Williams is given the green light to throw bullpen sessions within the next few days, he'll still need several weeks to get fully stretched back out for starting duty. Williams doesn't look like he'll be a realistic option for the Washington rotation until September, and he might be brought back as a reliever if his rehab process remains slow over the next few weeks.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Limited to playing catch
Rotowire
Williams (elbow) resumed playing catch from 60 feet earlier this month but remains without a clear timeline for a return from the 15-day injured list, MLB.com reports.
Before landing on the IL on June 4 with a right flexor muscle strain, Williams had been a pleasant surprise for the Nationals this season with a 5-0 record, 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB in 56.2 innings. While the strong form he displayed prior to getting hurt should be enough for him to reclaim a rotation spot once he's activated from the IL, Williams' return still looks to be multiple weeks down the road. He'll eventually need to resume throwing off a mound and facing hitters in live batting practice before embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being reinstated from the IL.
Williams (elbow) has yet to start a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Williams was placed on the 15-day IL on June 4 with a right flexor strain but remains shut down from throwing. It's safe to assume Williams won't be able to return until after the All-Star break. DJ Herz should continue to make starts in place of Williams.
