Rainey gave up a solo home run among two hits while striking out two in the ninth inning Saturday to record his seventh save of the season in a 10-8 win over the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Handed a three-run lead after the Nationals' offense came to life in the final frames, Rainey needed the cushion after he served up a solo shot to Brandon Drury. It was the first homer Rainey has allowed this season, and the right-hander will take a 2.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB through 17.1 innings into his next appearance.

Rainey retired all five batters he faced in Sunday's win over Colorado. He struck out three and earned a save.

EDGE Analysis

The 29-year-old entered the game with one out in the eighth inning after Kyle Finnegan allowed a pair of runs in the frame. Rainey needed just 18 pitches (16 strikes) to finish off the game and earn his fifth save of the year. Rainey lowered his season ERA to 2.35, and he's currently on a 4.2-inning scoreless streak after he was tagged with six runs (four earned) in his previous three appearances.

Rainey gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his fourth save of the season in a 1-0 win over the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't the sharpest outing, as Rainey needed 19 pitches (10 strikes) to work his way through the bottom of the Los Angeles order, but he was able to get the job done and pick up his first save since April 19 after blowing his first two chances in May. The right-hander will carry a 2.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB through 12.2 innings into his next appearance.

Rainey (1-1) was charged with his second blown save of the season but picked up the win in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning victory over the Marlins, giving up a run on a hit and two walks in one inning of relief. He struck out one.

EDGE Analysis

With the Nationals ahead 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Rainey got the call but quickly loaded the bases with one out before a Jazz Chisholm sacrifice fly tied the game. Rainey has now blown his last two save opportunities and given up runs in three straight appearances after maintaining a 0.00 ERA through his first eight games. On the season, the right-hander now sports a 3.38 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB through 10.2 innings, and if he continues to struggle, it could open the door for someone like Kyle Finnegan to get a look in the closer role.

Rainey (0-1) blew the save and took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning in a 5-4 defeat Sunday against the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

Rainey entered the game with a two-run lead and struck out the first batter he faced. After a walk and a single, he punched out Mike Trout. Shohei Ohtani then smacked a two-run double off the wall to tie it and was plated on a walk-off single by Anthony Rendon. Rainey had been excellent in his first eight appearances, converting all three of his save opportunities and holding opponents scoreless. The 29-year-old is the lone National to record a save and his status as closer should not change despite this hiccup.

Rainey collected his third save of the season in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

EDGE Analysis

Called upon to protect a 1-0 lead, Rainey managed to load the bases with nobody out before escaping the jam he'd created. The right-hander has a 0.00 ERA and 4:1 K:BB through four innings to begin the season and has yet to blow a save chance, but Rainey has a long way to go before he should be considered reliable as the Nationals' closer.

Rainey gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to record his second save of the season in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander did give up a two-out single to Austin Riley to make things interesting, but Rainey is two-for-two in save chances to begin the season. As long as he keeps getting the job done, Nationals manager Dave Martinez will keep turning to him in the ninth, but Rainey still has a little more work to do before he can be considered the team's true closer.

Rainey worked around a hit to throw a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save Sunday against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Dave Martinez didn't name a closer coming into the season, but he did tell MASN Sports back in mid-March that he would "love" for Rainey to show he's ready to close. The early returns are promising. Kyle Finnegan worked the eighth inning Sunday, setting up the save chance for Rainey.

Rainey and the Nationals agreed to terms Tuesday on a one-year contract to avoid arbitration, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rainey endured a turbulent 2021 campaign in which he struggled from both a performance and health standpoint, but he at least closed the season on a high note. Following a call-up from Triple-A Rochester for the final two weeks, Rainey made six appearances out of the bullpen and turned in a 1.41 FIP over that stretch while notching two saves. Rainey's strong finish to the season along with an impressive 20.1-inning sample in 2020 looks like it'll be enough to keep him in the closer mix heading into 2022, as manager Dave Martinez said early in spring training that he was hopeful the right-hander would seize hold of the job. The skipper may not formally name a closer heading into Opening Day, but Rainey should be in the mix for the gig if he turns in a productive spring.

Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that he would "love" for Rainey to cement himself as the Nationals' closer coming out of spring training, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martinez's comments can't be taken as evidence that Rainey is penciled in as the team's ninth-inning man, but the 29-year-old's strong finish to an otherwise turbulent 2021 season appears to make him the early frontrunner for the job. In addition to sustaining a collarbone injury last spring, testing positive for COVID-19 in May, and then suffering a right tibia stress reaction in late June, Rainey struggled mightily when available for the first four months of the season with a 7.62 ERA while walking 16.5 percent of the batters. However, upon returning in mid-September from a one-month stint at Triple-A, Rainey recaptured the strong form he displayed in 2020, submitting a 29.2 K-BB% and holding hitters to a .150 average while notching a pair of saves over five appearances. Though the late-season sample was a small one, it might be enough to position Rainey atop the depth chart in a bullpen that's mostly lacking in upside arms.