The post-break demons have reared their heads once more.
All-Star southpaw MacKenzie Gore was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday afternoon, retroactive to Wednesday, the day after his most recent start, with left shoulder inflammation. Gore's tone when speaking to the media about the roster transaction implied that the move was more precautionary, citing traditional September fatigue and a lack of proper recovery following his last start. Gore also seemed to be optimistic about the timeframe for his return, "planning on being ready to go" after the 15-day mandatory IL period.
It's still sobering news for the Nationals on the heels of their third seven-game losing streak of the 2025 campaign (extending their fourth six-plus-game losing streak) to be going without their ace for at least a couple of weeks. Granted, it's been tough to consider Gore much of an ace out of the All-Star break. In eight starts since returning home from Atlanta, MacKenzie has pitched to an ERA of 7.54 and has averaged just 4.2 innings per start. In two of those starts, he was unable to record more than nine outs and allowed eight earned runs. Half of his starts since the break have seen him concede multiple home runs to the opposition.
The second-half woes are not novel to MacKenzie Gore. Gore's 4.95 career second-half ERA and .351 wOBA against are far cries from his 3.87 ERA and .317 wOBA career first-half marks. The hope was present this year, after a stellar first half that saw him begin the season with 14 consecutive starts of more than one strikeout per inning, that 2025 would finally be the season MacKenzie broke through the barrier and carried that level of reliability into the second half. Perhaps, if the Nationals were serious about attempting to trade the left-hander, teams may not have been buying what the Washington organization was selling them; allowing 15 runs in under 13 innings across the final three starts before July 31 certainly could not have helped.
It's also the latest in a litany of Nationals injuries over the last couple of months. Keibert Ruiz is still not ready to return following a concussion suffered in late June, and now fellow catcher Drew Millas has a fractured finger and will not return this season. Trevor Williams and Derek Law also will not return this season.
The Nationals entered play on Sunday afternoon against the Rays hoping to avoid being swept for the ninth time this season. Unfortunately, starter Brad Lord was roughed up, and the Nationals continued their norm for this season as they were ultimately swept yet again.