Waldichuk has had a rough start to 2026, including a troubling last appearance where a 35-foot four-seamer caused him to exit the game with forearm tightness. He owns a 6.75 ERA, and his injury adds to bullpen concerns as the team searches for reliability from the late innings.
Henry, a former starting pitching prospect, has struggled with a right rotator cuff strain that will sideline him for an extended period. Though he posted a 6.43 ERA, Washington had counted on him as a trusted arm out of the bullpen before the setback.
To fill the void, Orlando Ribalta and Jackson Rutledge have been recalled. Ribalta has shown improvement at Triple-A with a 3.38 ERA and a 0.750 WHIP through 5.1 innings in 2026, though his major-league track record includes a 7.81 career ERA. Rutledge, a former first-round pick, has logged a 5.75 ERA over 101.1 MLB innings and previously posted a 5.40 ERA at Triple-A Rochester; he is expected to serve as an innings-eater while Waldichuk and Henry are sidelined.
The bullpen, currently ranked 27th in MLB with a 5.71 ERA, faces a critical test as Ribalta and Rutledge work to stabilize a unit that has struggled to close games and protect leads. Offensively, Washington’s young lineup—led by James Wood, Daylen Leile (Lile), and Luis García Jr.—has produced solid early-season numbers, highlighting the contrast between a potent bats group and a pitching staff that must improve to contend in the NL East.
