Clay (0-4) was tagged with the loss and a blown save Thursday in the second game of a doubleheader against the Phillies after allowing four runs (three earned) on one hit and two walks across one-third of an inning.

EDGE Analysis

Clay entered the game in a save situation with the Nationals holding a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth, but he couldn't get the job done. Despite retiring Odubel Herrera on a groundout, back-to-back walks to Jean Segura and Aaron Nola set up the stage for what would be a walkoff grand slam by Brad Miller. As a result, Clay ended a streak of three straight scoreless appearances and owns an inflated 10.38 ERA, as well as a 1.96 WHIP, across 12 appearances (8.2 innings) this month.

Clay (0-2) took the loss in Thursday's 9-8 defeat by San Diego, allowing one run on two hits and a walk in 0.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Clay entered for the bottom of the ninth in an 8-8 game and immediately surrendered a leadoff single to Tommy Pham. With two out and Pham on third, Manny Machado was intentionally walked and Trent Grisham delivered a walk-off single to hand Clay the loss. The lefty's ERA has remained above four for over a month and currently sits at 4.97, though he's second on the team with nine holds.

Clay (0-1) was tagged with the loss in relief Friday against the Dodgers after giving up three runs on two hits in just one-third of an inning.

EDGE Analysis

Clay entered the game in the seventh inning following a quality start from Max Scherzer, but the wheels came off almost instantly for the southpaw and only recorded one out before being lifted. Clay had shown signs of a potential turnaround in June, but he's now given up runs in three of his last five outings off the bullpen. He owns a ballooned 8.71 ERA and a 1.94 WHIP across 13 games (10.1 innings) since the beginning of June.

Clay struck out one in a perfect inning of relief during Sunday's win over the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't a high-leverage situation, as the Nats had a 5-0 lead when Clay worked the ninth inning, but it was still a sharp performance. The southpaw got scored upon in four straight outings to begin June but has delivered three straight scoreless appearances since, leaving him with a 4.50 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB K:BB through 20 innings on the year.

Clay gave up a hit and a walk over one scoreless inning in Tuesday's loss to the Reds. He struck out one.

EDGE Analysis

The southpaw isn't being used in many high-leverage spots and has only two holds this season without a save or decision, but Clay has been a reliable arm for the Nats. He hasn't been charged with an earned in 12 straight appearances covering nine innings, although his 6:4 K:BB over that stretch isn't exactly dominant, to leave him with a 2.51 ERA and 1.40 WHIP on the year.

Clay has a 6.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 6:2 K:BB through six innings with one hold over six appearances.

EDGE Analysis

The southpaw backed into a spot on the Opening Day roster due to the Nats' COVID-19 outbreak, but aside from a rough outing against the Dodgers on April 10, Clay has pitched well enough to stick around. Helping his case for a bullpen spot is that the team doesn't have any other left-handed relievers on the 26-man roster aside from closer Brad Hand.

The Nationals will recall Clay from their alternate training site ahead of Thursday's season opener against the Mets, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Washington optioned Clay over the weekend, but he'll rejoin the big club on an emergency basis after general manager Mike Rizzo announced Wednesday that the Nationals are expected to be without five yet-to-be-named players for Opening Day due to COVID-19-related concerns. The Nats' decision to call up Clay could indicate that at least one of the two lefty relievers on the roster -- Brad Hand and Luis Avilan -- are among the five players currently in quarantine. Clay isn't expected to see much high-leverage work for the extent of his stint on the active roster.

Clay was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Clay was in the mix for a spot in the bullpen during spring training but will begin the year in the minors. The left-hander posted a 3.12 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 8.2 innings this spring. If he performs well with Triple-A Rochester, Clay could make his major-league debut at some point in 2021.

Clay has made a good first impression on Nationals manager Dave Martinez as he competes for a spot in the bullpen, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports. "He threw today, and he looked really good," Martinez said Wednesday. "He throws a heavy ball. We like him because he [induces] a lot of ground balls. It's got a good mix of pitches, so we're going to keep a close eye on him."

EDGE Analysis

The 27-year-old has yet to make his big-league debut after coming up through the Twins' organization, but Clay signed a major-league deal with Washington in the offseason, and the only left-hander currently locked into a bullpen job is closer Brad Hand. Before spending all of 2020 at Minnesota's alternate training site, Clay posted a 3.25 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 72:28 K:BB across 69.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A without allowing a home run. If he does break camp on the big-league roster, he would likely work in middle relief.

Clay signed a major-league contract with the Nationals on Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Clay spent the 2020 season at the Twins' alternate training site after impressing in the minors in 2019. The 27-year-old failed to make the major-league roster, but he'll now have a spot on the Nationals' 40-man roster heading into 2021. The southpaw posted a 3.25 ERA and 72:28 K:BB over 69.1 innings between the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2019.