The Nationals are dealing with a worrisome situation regarding one of their top pitchers. told reporters that he came out of his most recent rehab start with elbow discomfort and fatigue ( via Andrew Golden of the Washington Post). Hell head for additional testing. Manager Dave Martinez indicated theyll hold off on that imaging until around the All-Star Break (relayed by The Posts Spencer Nusbaum). Gray has been on the injured list since the second week of the season. He went on the shelf on April 9 with what the team called a forearm strain. The right-hander has mi sed nearly three months but appeared to be nearing a return. Hed begun a rehab a signment on June 9 and has made five starts in the minors in recent weeks. Gray was likely ticketed for one final rehab outing next weekend before rejoining the MLB rotation. Those plans are on hold as the Nats hope for encouraging test results. Even if testing doesnt reveal any kind of structural damage, the club will a suredly be very cautious in building Grays throwing program back up. Gray likened the discomfort to the sorene s he initially felt in April, raising the po sibility of another extended absence. This clearly hasnt been the desired follow-up to the rightys first All-Star season. Gray turned in a 3.91 earned run average while logging 159 innings (second on the team behind 180 frames) a year ago. While Grays production tailed off down the stretch, it was a Christian Arroyo Jersey generally encouraging season for the former top prospect. The Nats have patched together a reasonably productive rotation despite absences to both Gray and , who hasnt pitched in over a month because of a muscle strain in his forearm. Washington ranks 12th with a 3.90 ERA from its starters. Theyre in the bottom third of the league with a 21.3% strikeout rate but have generally shown decent control and done a solid job keeping the ball on the ground. has turned in a 3.47 ERA with a strong 27.2% strikeout rate in the best season of his young career. and rookie have each managed an earned run average in the low-3.00s despite middling strikeout numbers. Parker, in particular, has shown surprisingly strong control after struggling with walks throughout his minor league days. , who stepped into the rotation since Williams went down, has been inconsistent but has flashed bat-mi sing ability through his first five MLB starts. Corbin is on his way to his fourth consecutive season allowing more than five earned runs per nine. The veteran southpaw was better in June than hed been through the first couple months, though he still posted a 4.71 ERA in 28 2/3 innings. His rotation spot might have been in jeopardy if Gray were healthy, but he figures to get a longer leash after the latters setback. The Nationals have dropped seven of their last 10 and fallen towards the back of the group of mid-level teams in the National League. Theyre 39-45, tied with the Reds and narrowly ahead of the Cubs but behind five teams for the NLs last Wild Card spot. While it doesnt seem theyll put themselves in position to acquire impactful rotation help at the deadline, theyll at least have the opportunity to play their way into buying. Theyre amidst a three-game series with the Mets. After that, theyll take on the Cardinals, Mets, Brewers, Reds, Padres and St. Louis again before kicking off a set with the D-Backs heading into the deadline. Apart from Milwaukee, all those teams are jumbled in the Wild Card mix. Tanner Houck Jersey