Wire Taps: Washington Nationals put Roenis Elías on 60-Day IL; Nats drop 2 of 3 to New York Yankees...

Following the loss to the New York Yankees in the finale of the season-opening series in the nation’s capital, the Washington Nationals announced that reliever Roenis Elías went on the 60-Day IL with a left elbow flexor strain.

“He threw yesterday and he didn’t feel right,” Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez explained. “Got an MRI today, and it was a flexor strain. We’re going to be cautious, and he’s going to be out for a while.”

It’s another in a string of injuries for the left-hander, who injured his hamstring after his first appearance for the Nationals following a trade from the Seattle Martinez last July, and did so while running out a ground ball when he’d been told not to swing in a rare at bat as the Nats tried to get an extended outing out of him.

Elías tweaked the hamstring again after returning to the mound in September, and he was included on the NLCS roster though he didn’t pitch. He was placed on the IL upon arriving at Spring Training 2.0 earlier this month, but reported to the team’s Alternate Training site earlier this week to start throwing again before the latest injury.

“He’s had all kinds of bad luck,” Martinez said.

“I tell him all the time, I said, ‘Hey look, when you’re healthy, you’re going to help us, so we’ve got to get you healthy. That’s the biggest thing.’

“‘You’ve got to do everything the trainers or medical staff say now to get you back as quick as possible.

“But he’s a left-handed pitcher that pitched in the back end of the bullpen for Seattle, that when he’s healthy he can get big outs.”

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Corbin starts smooth, Turner notches first HR (Nats fall 3-2) - (MASN)
"Through the first three innings, Corbin struck out five batters, and the other four hitters all grounded out to third base or shortstop."

Corbin baffles Yanks with slider, but Nats fall - (MLB.com)
"The lefty went back into cruise control after that. Corbin retired the next eight in a row before Torres got to him again, this time with a homer to left in the seventh, chasing him from the game."

Stephen Strasburg may be ready his next start, Juan Soto still in limbo - (NBC Sports Washington)
"The Nationals are holding out hope for Stephen Strasburg. They have little choice."

Nationals let game, series slip away late (updated) - (MASN)
"In this shortened, 60-game season, the outcome of any tight ballgame is going to be magnified, all the more so when the lead flips late."

Elias placed on 60-day injured list with left elbow injury - (MASN)
"Nationals manager Davey Martinez said the injury occurred while Elías was conducting a bullpen session yesterday in Fredericksburg, Va."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

NL EAST UPDATES:

Phillies pitchers give up four homers in loss to Marlins - (MLB.com)
"Vince Velasquez knows that Sunday’s start at Citizens Bank Park put him in a difficult spot and that he must be better when he starts again, on Friday against the Blue Jays."

Mets hopping on the bus for first road trip - (MLB.com)
"Under normal circumstances, the Mets would have flown to Boston for their upcoming two-game set at Fenway Park. In the COVID-19 world, they are taking buses..."

Miami Marlins postpone trip home amid fear of virus outbreak - (AP)
"Manager Don Mattingly said the Marlins decided to wait until Monday to leave Philadelphia, and they planned to arrive in Miami hours before their home opener against Baltimore."

Will Smith cleared to end COVID quarantine - (MLB.com)
"Braves reliever Will Smith has been cleared to end his quarantine, which was required after he tested positive for COVID-19 at the beginning of the month."