Injuries to Ken Waldichuk and Cole Henry force Washington Nationals to make a pair of bullpen moves

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 12: Ken Waldichuk #52 of the Washington Nationals walks off the field after an apparent injury during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on April 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images As if the Nats did not already have enough problems in their bullpen, they have now been hit with the injury bug. Two Nats relievers are now on the shelf, with Cole Henry and Ken Waldichuk hitting the IL.

Waldichuk going on the IL was not much of a surprise to anyone who watched him leave the other day, but Henry hitting the shelf is a bit more surprising. The Nationals have announced the following roster moves: -Recalled RHP Orlando Ribalta and RHP Jackson -Rutledge from Triple-A Rochester -Placed RHP Cole Henry on the 15-day IL (right rotator cuff strain) -Placed LHP Ken Waldichuk on the 15-day IL (left forearm tightness)… — Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) April 13, 2026 Things looked really bad for Ken Waldichuk when he left the game yesterday. Leaving the game while grimacing in pain and pointing at your elbow is never a good sign.

For now at least, the injury is just listed as forearm tightness. Hopefully Waldichuk avoided anything serious and can come back sooner rather than later. Waldichuk had a Tommy John in 2024, and the recovery was bumpy to say the least.

He did not look like himself when he returned in 2025. That led to the southpaw bouncing around the waiver wire until he found a home in DC. Before he got hurt, Waldichuk was having his best outing of the season, which made the injury sting even more.