Rutledge (0-1) took the loss Wednesday, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and a walk over 3.2 innings against Pittsburgh. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

It was a rocky start to Rutledge's MLB career -- the Pirates put up a four spot on the right-hander in the first inning, as he ultimately allowed seven runs without making it through the fourth inning. The 24-year-old Rutledge had a strong year in the minors, pitching to a 3.71 ERA while striking out 106 across 119 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He'll be looking for better results in his second big-league outing, tentatively scheduled for next week against the White Sox.

Rutledge was recalled from Triple-A Rochester ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Rutledge will be making his major-league debut Wednesday night in Pittsburgh and could fit in a couple more turns in the Nationals' rotation before the 2023 season comes to a close. A first-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, the now-24-year-old right-hander had registered a 3.71 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 106:55 K:BB in 119 innings (23 starts) this season between Double-A and Triple-A.

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Rutledge will make his major-league debut Wednesday against Pittsburgh, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rutledge began the season with Double-A Harrisburg and has posted a 4.44 ERA and 1.51 WHIP through 50.2 innings since being promoted to Triple-A Rochester in June. The 24-year-old righty doesn't strike batters out at a particularly high rate (7.9 K/9), and he's struggled with walks (5.4 BB/9) since reaching Triple-A, so fantasy managers would be wise to temper expectations as Rutledge makes his first major-league start.

Rutledge has joined the Nationals' taxi squad and could be promoted from Triple-A Rochester to make his major-league debut Wednesday versus the Pirates, Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan Washington reports.

EDGE Analysis

Washington has yet to name a starter for Wednesday's game, but Rutledge looks to be the top candidate for the nod. The 24-year-old right-hander was drafted by the Nationals with the 17th overall pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft and has worked to a 3.71 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 106:55 K:BB in 119 innings (23 starts) this season between Double-A Harrisburg and Rochester.

Rutledge was promoted Wednesday to Triple-A Rochester, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rutledge was selected by the Nationals with the 17th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, but his prospect shine had faded over the last few years due to injuries and inconsistency. He has turned it all around this season, delivering a 3.16 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 68.1 innings (12 starts) at Double-A Harrisburg to earn the bump to Triple-A. The 24-year-old right-hander could perhaps get the call to Washington before the end of the 2023 campaign and should be a consideration for the Opening Day rotation in 2024.

Rutledge has gone exactly six innings in each of his last five starts for Double-A Harrisburg, logging a 2.40 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 26 strikeouts in 30 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Given that Rutledge has a middling 14.7 K-BB% and a similarly mediocre 35.9 percent groundball rate, it's hard to project a high ceiling for the 6-foot-8 righty. The No. 17 overall pick in 2019, Rutledge only had 10.2 innings above Single-A under his belt coming into the year, so it's encouraging that he is having success while going deep into games in the upper levels of the minors.

The Nationals optioned Rutledge to Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday,Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rutledge pitched at Low-A Fredericksburg in 2022 but will make the jump to Harrisburg to start 2023. The first-round pick has been a disappointment so far in his three years of pro ball.

Rutledge was added to the Nationals' 40-man roster Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

At his very best, the No. 17 overall pick from the 2019 draft looks completely dominant, but injuries and poor control have really limited Rutledge's development. He made 20 starts last season at Single-A as a 23-year-old -- a level he made six starts at in 2019 -- so if anything Rutledge has regressed in recent years. Given his lack of refinement or upper-level experience, it may make sense to eventually develop the 6-foot-8 righty as a reliever.

Rutledge (biceps) will make his season debut at Single-A Fredericksburg on Thursday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rutledge spent the first month of the season on the 7-day minor-league injured list with biceps soreness and was also slowed during spring training. While the right-hander will presumably have his workload monitored early, it's encouraging that he's now been cleared to return to game action, particularly after dealing with injuries last year.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said last week that Rutledge has been slowed by biceps soreness during spring training, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Washington invited the right-hander to big-league spring training, but he didn't see any use during the Grapefruit League slate while tending to the injury. While Martinez noted that Rutledge hasn't been shut down and has been doing some throwing of late, he'll likely open the season on the injured list at Low-A Fredericksburg or High-A Wilmington. The biceps issue is the latest in a growing list of injuries that have slowed Rutledge's development since he was selected in the first round of the 2019 first-year player draft.