The Washington Nationals DFA'd another pitcher after claiming another from an NL East foe, while injury updates on a pair of pitchers
The Washington Nationals kicked off the six game homestand with the first game against the Seattle Mariners of the season, ending in a blowout loss on Friday night, but the team also announced a pair of pitching moves ahead of the opener and one after.
The Nationals announced that they have claimed right handed pitcher Jhancarlos Lara from the Atlanta Braves and subsequently optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg. To make space, Washington designated right handed pitcher Julian Fernandez for assignment. Following the loss, Riley Cornelio was also optioned down to Triple A Rochester.
Lara, 23, was designed for assignment by Atlanta on Wednesday before the Nationals announced his acquisition just two days later where he's shown off his power in the minors with his control the biggest question. In 15 games, Lara owns an 8.22 ERA and 2.61 WHIP with 21 strikeouts, 29 walks and 14 earned runs across just 15.1 innings so far in Double A to begin 2026. He also owns a 7.55 career ERA in three seasons of Double A, including a 6.54 ERA across 28 games in Triple A, where he'll look to get back on track in a new thread where he gives Washington another young arm with upside the staff looks to tap into.
As for Hernandez, 30, he gets DFA'd after owning a 2.25 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across three appearances so far with the Nationals.
His lone appearances this season came in the home series loss against the Atlanta Braves back in late April where Fernandez allowed a solo home run to mark the lone earned run allowed to go with just three hits and three strikeouts across four innings.
Hernandez arrived with the Nationals in late August during the 2025 season after being claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers, now likely ending his stint with the organization with a 2.57 ERA across seven innings and just six games over the two seasons.
Cornelio also allowed three earned runs and three hits in 4.1 innings in Friday's loss, exiting the game with a 6.48 ERA this season.
The news came on the same day that an update on Jake Irvin's recovery emerged after Blake Butera noted that Irvin threw both a weighted ball and baseball from 60-75 feet in San Francisco on Wednesday. Irvin has been sidelined since May 24 despite initially being placed on the 15-day injured list.
Right handed pitcher Jarlin Susana, who is recovering from right lateral surgery, also began throwing off a mound in West Palm Beach last week where he's considered "on schedule with his throwing progression," per Mark Zuckerman. He joins right handed pitcher Max Kranick and Travis Sykora among the right handers also rehabbing in West Palm Beach as Kranick also threw a 20 pitch bullpen session on Thursday, June 11.
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