In a setback for the Washington Nationals, right-handed pitcher Josiah Gray has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right elbow/forearm flexor strain. The move, which is retroactive to Saturday, comes as Gray's struggles on the mound continue.

Gray, who was the Nationals' Opening Day starter, had high hopes for the season after earning his first All-Star appearance in the previous year. However, he has been unable to replicate that success and has had a rocky start to the current campaign. In his first start against the Cincinnati Reds, Gray surrendered seven runs in four innings, and in his latest outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he allowed six runs in just over four innings of work. Consequently, Gray holds an unimpressive 0-2 record with a bloated 14.04 ERA.

This latest injury marks Gray's first trip to the injured list in the major leagues, but he had previously spent time on the IL back in 2021 when he was still a minor leaguer in the Los Angeles Dodgers' system. The 26-year-old's injury could possibly explain his recent struggles on the mound.

Gray's absence adds to a growing list of pitchers dealing with arm injuries, particularly in the competitive National League East division. The Atlanta Braves' Spencer Strider and the Miami Marlins' Eury Pérez are also currently on the injured list, with Pérez scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery. In addition, New York Mets' Kodai Senga is sidelined with a right capsule strain, while the Cleveland Guardians' Shane Bieber and the New York Yankees' Gerrit Cole are dealing with ulnar collateral ligament issues and nerve inflammation, respectively. Even the Houston Astros' Framber Valdez experienced elbow soreness this week.

The Nationals will be particularly affected by Gray's absence, as their young arms play a crucial role in their ongoing rebuild. Already missing the promising Cade Cavalli, who underwent Tommy John surgery in March and is yet to face live hitters after making his MLB debut in 2022, the team now faces the challenge of finding a suitable replacement for Gray's spot in the rotation.

As of now, the Nationals have recalled right-hander Joan Adon from Class AAA Rochester, who is expected to start in Gray's place against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night. The team will closely monitor Gray's recovery and hope to have him back on the mound as soon as possible, but a long-term absence would undoubtedly be a major blow to their aspirations for the season.