“It’s bad,” Gray said. “Since joining the Nationals, I’ve made every start I was supposed to make. I’m proud of myself for doing that. So obviously coming to the field and not being on the five-man rotation for the foreseeable future is a big punchline.”

Gray felt more than his usual soreness after starting after his last outing on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He threw a practice session and still didn’t feel like himself, so he got an MRI scan. The results showed that the ulnar collateral ligament was intact, but there was inflammation. The next steps are rest and rehab, Gray said, adding that there is no timetable for when he will start throwing again.

“He’s going to take some time off and get some strength back, and then we’ll try to get him back as soon as possible,” head coach Dave Martinez said.

Gray (26 years old) entered the season hoping to build on the 2023 season in which he made his debut, but he struggled in the second half. He had a rough start against the Cincinnati Reds on Opening Day, when he allowed seven runs in four innings. He then allowed six runs in 4⅓ innings against the Pirates, giving him an 0-2 record and a 14.04 ERA. Gray did not blame his injury for his poor performance, repeating that the discomfort came after his second start.

This will be Gray’s first trip to the major league injured list. His only other stint on the IL came in 2021, when he was a minor leaguer in the Los Angeles Dodgers system.

At that time, he injured his shoulder and was out for seven weeks. At that time, he pledged to establish a proper routine and follow it to stay healthy. However, I found it to be an injury bug.

“It’s a harsh reality of what we do as pitchers, especially in today’s game,” Gray said. “The risk of injury is going up. It definitely gives you a sense of reality in what we do. Unfortunately, I have to miss some time, but I don’t think it will really change anything I do.”

Gray joins a growing list of pitchers dealing with arm injuries. In the National League East alone, Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Stryder is in the IL, and Miami Marlins right-hander Yuri Perez is on the team. He was scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery this week. The New York Mets are right Kodai Senga was sidelined with a right capsule strain.

Additionally, Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber, the 2020 Cy Young Award winner, needs surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament. New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole, the AL Cy Young winner, is rehabbing in hopes of returning from Nerve inflammation in his right elbow. Houston Astros outfielder Framber Valdez felt pain In his left elbow this week.

Gray’s long-term injury would be a huge blow to the Nationals, whose young arms are a key part of their rebuilding process. Washington is already without Cade Cavalli, who made his major league debut in August 2022. He underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2023 and has yet to face live batters.

Adon, 25, made his 26th career start on Tuesday, making him the most experienced option for a Nationals call-up. The club has begun to delve deeper into its system, but most of its prospects are not considered ready for the major tournaments. Martinez wants to give Jackson Rutledge more time to get into a rhythm in Class AAA. Lefty Mitchell Parker had started just three games in Rochester before this year, and fellow lefty DJ Herz had never reached a level higher than Class AA.