Rutledge coughed up four runs on four hits, including two home runs, over just one-third of an inning in Sunday's loss to the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

His lone out did come via strikeout, but it was still a rough way for the 26-year-old righty to end the first half. Rutledge boasted an ERA of 2.08 back on May 6 and looked like a potential high-leverage option for the Nationals' bullpen, but since then things have gone completely off the rails for the 2019 first-round pick. On the season, Rutledge carries a 6.92 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 36:16 K:BB through 40.1 innings, and he's served up an ugly 12 homers.

Rutledge (1-1) picked up the win in Thursday's extra-inning victory over Atlanta, allowing one hit in a scoreless 10th inning.

EDGE Analysis

After Kyle Finnegan blew the save in the ninth, Rutledge held Atlanta's 5-6-7 hitters in check in the 10th before Amed Rosario walked it off with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame. Thye 26-year-old righty has given up earned runs in only two of his last 12 appearances, posting a 1.72 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB across 15.2 innings over that stretch. Should Finnegan be unavailable for closing duties at any point, Rutledge might be positioning himself to become the next man up for the Nats.

Rutledge walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning of relief Wednesday to record his first career hold in a win over the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old right-hander was converted to the bullpen this year, and while Rutledge's control remains shaky -- he threw just 13 of 25 pitches for strikes Wednesday -- for the most part he's adapting well to his new role. Through eight innings over five appearances in the majors in 2025, he's posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB. If Rutledge can find the strike zone a little more often, he could work his way into consistent high-leverage work in a Nationals bullpen that lacks established setup men ahead of closer Kyle Finnegan.

The Nationals recalled Rutledge from Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander missed out on the Opening Day roster but will join the Nationals as Michael Soroka (bicep) heads to the injured list. Rutledge has worked as a starter for most of his professional career, but he's unlikely to fill Soroka's spot in the rotation as anything other than an opener -- he shifted to a relief role in spring training and worked out of the bullpen in his first two appearances of the season for Rochester.

The Nationals optioned Rutledge to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander entered camp on the fringes of Washington's rotation competition, but he began transitioning to a multi-inning relief role in mid-March. Rutledge allowed three earned runs with a 9:2 K:BB over 8.1 big-league innings last year, but he spent most of the campaign at Rochester, where he had a 6.40 ERA in 27 starts.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday that Rutledge will be used as a multi-inning reliever moving forward, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

A first-round pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, Rutledge has seen spot duty in the majors the last two seasons but really struggled last year at Triple-A Rochester, posting a 6.40 ERA with a 13.7 percent walk rate. Rutledge's stuff should play up in relief and the new role also figures to mask some of his control problems.

The Nationals recalled Rutledge on Friday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The move gives the Nationals a long-relief option out of the bullpen for the weekend series against the Phillies. Rutledge last played for the Nats on July 12, when he allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings. He's spent most of the season with Triple-A Rochester, where he's posted a 4-9 record over 27 starts with a 6.40 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 128:77 K:BB across 122.1 innings. To make room on the 28-man roster for Rutledge, Washington optioned DJ Herz to the Florida Complex League Nationals.

Washington optioned Rutledge to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Rutledge was solid in a spot start Friday, allowing two runs while striking out six batters over 4.2 innings against the Brewers. However, he'll head back down to the minors to make room for reliever Eduardo Salazar on the big-league roster. With Rutledge's demotion, the Nationals currently have only four healthy starters, and it's not yet certain how they'll fill the fifth rotation spot following the All-Star break, though that role could go back to DJ Herz, who had been starting for the team before being sent down to Triple-A on July 8.

Rutledge did not factor into the decision in Friday's 5-2 win over Milwaukee, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Despite pitching to a 6.66 ERA across 71.2 innings at Triple-A Rochester, the 25-year-old held his own in his first major-league start of the season. Rutledge heavily relied upon a sinker that averaged 95.0 mph, generating 10 whiffs en route to his six punchouts. The Washington right-hander should garner at least one more start post-All-Star break as DJ Herz was demoted July 8 and isn't eligible to return to the big leagues until July 23. Rutledge tentatively lines up to face the Padres at home if he sticks in the rotation.

The Nationals recalled Rutledge from Triple-A Rochester to start Friday's game against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Rutledge will make his first MLB start of 2024, with his only other appearance with the Nationals this season coming May 14 out of the bullpen. The 25-year-old owns a 6.66 ERA across 71.2 innings with Triple-A Rochester and has allowed 10 runs (nine earned) over his last 7.1 innings.