Rutledge (finger) made his return from Low-A Fredericksburg's 7-day injured list Aug. 31 and started Thursday for the affiliate, working 1.1 innings while giving up six runs (four earned) on four hits and one walk.

EDGE Analysis

Rutledge was back in action after a blister on his pitching hand had kept him sidelined since Aug. 10. The 22-year-old has endured a rough season between his stops at three minor-league affiliates, posting a collective 10.08 ERA and 1.96 WHIP across 25 innings.

Low-A Fredericksburg returned Rutledge (finger) to the 7-day injured list Wednesday after he suffered a recurrence of a blister on his pitching hand during his start Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rutledge was on the shelf for about two weeks due to the blister before gaining clearance to start Tuesday's contest, but he faced only five hitters before bowing out of the contest. The Nationals could opt to shut Rutledge down for a longer period of time following the setback, which may make it a challenge for the 22-year-old to make another appearance before season's end. Through three starts with Fredricksburg this season, Rutledge has worked 9.1 innings and has given up six earned runs on eight hits and five walks while striking out 13.

Rutledge is on the 7-day injured list with Low-A Fredericksburg with a blister, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He is coming off his best start of the year - five shutout innings with seven strikeouts on July 29. Rutledge has had a disaster of a season on the whole, as the 22-year-old righty logged a 12.66 ERA in four starts (10.2 innings) at High-A before missing time with a shoulder injury and then getting a soft landing with an assignment to Low-A. Ideally he will return soon from the blister and be able to finish the season strong while staying healthy. He is a candidate to head to the Arizona Fall League after the minor-league season.

High-A Wilmington activated Rutledge (shoulder) from its 7-day injured list July 20 and assigned him to Low-A Fredericksburg. Rutledge made his first start for Fredericksburg on Friday, giving up seven runs (six earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out four over three innings.

EDGE Analysis

Rutledge was sidelined for about a month and a half with a sore right shoulder before he was cleared to begin a rehab assignment July 9 in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. He made two starts in the FCL before he was assigned to Fredericksburg. Though Rutledge was blown up in his first outing with the affiliate, the Nationals are likely just happy to see the 2019 first-round pick back on the mound again.

Rutledge (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with the Nationals' Florida Complex League affiliate Friday, giving up two runs on one hit and one walk while striking out one over one inning.

EDGE Analysis

The appearance was Rutledge's first since May 21 after a sore right shoulder had kept him out of action for more than six weeks. The 22-year-old may need another outing or two in the FCL to build up his pitch count before he's activated from High-A Wilmington's 7-day injured list.

Rutledge (shoulder) has resumed a rehab program at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida since being placed on the 7-day injured list at High-A Wilmington on June 2, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Nationals aren't viewing Rutledge's right shoulder injury as a major concern, but because the 22-year-old is one of the more prized pitching prospects in the organization, he'll be brought along slowly in his recovery. Rutledge made four starts for Wilmington before landing on the shelf, posting a 12.66 ERA and 2.55 WHIP across 10.2 innings.

Rutledge was removed from Friday's start for High-A Wilmington with right shoulder discomfort, Todd Dybas of Inside the Clubhouse reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rutledge threw 17 pitches and recorded one out before exiting with the injury and will be evaluated Saturday. Something certainly seems to be off for the 22-year-old righty, as he has given up 15 earned runs with a 10:9 K:BB in 10.2 innings over four starts at High-A.

Rutledge will begin the season at High-A Wilmington, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

This is a shockingly conservative assignment for the 2019 first-round pick, but the Nats appear to be taking a far more cautious approach with their top pitching prospects than other organizations after a lost minor-league season. Rutledge will join Cade Cavalli in the Wilmington rotation, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see both get a quick promotion to Double-A if they overmatch opposing hitters. Starting the year three levels from the majors likely rules out both right-handers from making their big-league debuts in 2021, however.

Rutledge struck out Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith in a 1-2-3 third inning during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brandon Nimmo reached base to begin the frame, but Rutledge picked him off before shutting down two of New York's best young hitters, getting McNeil with a 96 mph fastball and Smith with his slider. The tall right-hander was the Nats' first-round pick in 2019, and while it might take a rash of injuries to push him into the big leagues this season, Rutledge could be knocking on the door of a rotation spot in 2022.

The Nationals announced Wednesday that Rutledge would be invited to big-league spring training as a non-roster player.

EDGE Analysis

The 21-year-old didn't appear in affiliated ball in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor-league season, but he was still able to continue his development at the Nationals' alternate training site in Fredericksburg and in the instructional league during the fall. The right-hander -- who is widely regarded as one of the top arms in the Washington system -- is expected to spend most of the upcoming season in the upper levels of the minors.