Rutherford cleared outright assignment waivers Wednesday and elected to become a free agent, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rutherford made just 36 plate appearances in the majors this season, recording six hits and two RBI in the process. However, he slashed .336/.393/.571 with 12 homers across 313 plate appearances between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester. His impressive minor-league stats will likely draw interest from teams searching for organizational outfield depth.

The Nationals recalled Rutherford from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old outfielder will get another look at the major-league level as Travis Blankenhorn heads to the 10-day injured list with plantar fasciitis. Rutherford has batted just .182 with a .388 OPS and 10 strikeouts in 34 plate appearances this season with Washington.

The Nationals optioned Rutherford to Triple-A Rochester following Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Marlins, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rutherford's demotion comes after he had recently ceded his strong-side platoon role in left field to Jake Alu, who had previously been handling an everyday role at second base. Given that Rutherford had been out of the lineup for five of the Nationals' last six games and had recorded a .182/.206/.182 slash line through his first 34 plate appearances in the majors, Washington's decision to send him back to the minors doesn't doesn't come as a major surprise.

Rutherford is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Rutherford is on the bench for the fourth straight game and has seemingly lost hold of a strong-side platoon role while the Nationals have recently added Carter Kieboom and Jacob Young from the minor-league ranks. Since his call-up from Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 4, Rutherford has slashed .182/.206/.182 over 34 plate appearances.

Rutherford is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Jake Alu will start in left field as Ildemaro Vargas handles second base. Carter Kieboom is at third. Rutherford went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the Nationals' loss to New York on Wednesday and is batting just .182 with a .388 OPS across his first 34 major-league plate appearances.

Rutherford is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Stone Garrett, Alex Call and Lane Thomas will start across the outfield for the Nationals as they face left-hander Carlos Rodon. The left-handed-hitting Rutherford has drawn only three plate appearances against southpaws this season at the MLB level.

Rutherford isn't in Washington's lineup Saturday against the Phillies, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Southpaw Cristopher Sanchez will begin Saturday's game on the mound, so the lefty-hitting Rutherford will start off on the bench. Stone Garrett, Alex Call and Lane Thomas will start in the outfield from left to right.

Rutherford went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI in Friday's 8-7 win over the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old went 0-for-16 following his promotion in early August, but Rutherford might be getting comfortable at the plate -- over his last three starts, he's gone 6-for-11 with two RBI and three runs. A first-round pick of the Yankees back in 2016, the rebuilding Nationals have every incentive to see if Rutherford is a late bloomer, and a potential contributor in 2024 and beyond.

Rutherford is out of the lineup again Thursday versus the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Rutherford sat Wednesday with left-hander James Paxton toeing the slab for Boston, and he'll remain on the bench Thursday as the Nationals face another southpaw in Chris Sale. The 26-year-old outfielder has drawn only two plate appearances against lefties since his Aug. 4 promotion to the majors.

Rutherford is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

In his short major-league career, Rutherford has yet to start against a lefty, and that remains the case heading into Sunday's game. The 26-year-old made his big-league debut Aug. 2 and has appeared in five games since. In Saturday's game, the outfielder recorded his first two career hits.