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Washington Nationals at Detroit Tigers

By JR·1 min read
Washington NationalsWSH(73-83)
Detroit TigersDET(73-83)
AT
6:40 PM ET

TLDR: Two teams with nothing left on the schedule but the schedule itself meet in Detroit, and one of them just locked up its first losing season since 2023.

MON SEP 21, 6:40 PM
Spread
WIN
Total
Nationals
(73-83)
LWWLW
Tigers
(73-83)
LLWLL

Washington sends DJ Herz out for his first major-league start in two years against Detroit's River Ryan, the return piece from the Tarik Skubal trade, with both bullpens thinned by injury and Detroit fresh off clinching its first losing season since 2023. Recent form favors Washington, which took 2 of 3 from St. Louis, while Detroit has dropped 4 of its last 5.

Nationals
  • Took 2 of 3 from Cardinals last series
  • Herz struck out 19 in 18 rehab innings
  • Bullpen down five relievers to injury
  • Herz hasn't pitched in majors since 2024
Tigers
  • Moneyline favorite in a home matinee
  • Bullpen intact relative to Washington's
  • Lost 4 of last 5, 2 straight
  • Just clinched first losing season since 2023

DJ Herz takes the mound for the first time in the majors since September 2024 opposite River Ryan, the arm Detroit got back when it sent Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers, with first pitch set for 6:40 PM ET at Comerica Park.

DJ Herz
DJ Herz
—
2026 · No starts yet
ND
—IP
—ER
—K
—BB
—P
09/21 Lineup
River Ryan
River Ryan
—
2026 · No starts yet
ND
—IP
—ER
—K
—BB
—P
09/21 Lineup

Washington's bullpen is running thin behind him — Matt Waldron, Orlando Ribalta, PJ Poulin, Mitchell Parker and Ken Waldichuk are all out for the year with arm issues, which pushes more weight onto whatever Herz gives them early. Detroit's own rotation took a hit Sunday when Troy Melton left his start with arm discomfort, leaving him day-to-day and thinning a staff that already has Justin Verlander and Jack Flaherty on the shelf.

Neither pitcher carries a big-league track record this year — Herz and Ryan both sit at 0-0 with no logged starts — so the board is leaning more on form and roster shape than anything either arm has actually done.

Washington Nationals
(73-83)
09/20L@Cardinals3-5
09/19W@Cardinals8-5
09/18W@Cardinals9-1
09/16LvsPhillies0-3
09/15WvsPhillies6-3
Detroit Tigers
(73-83)
09/20L@White Sox1-8
09/19L@White Sox1-3
09/18W@White Sox11-8
09/17L@White Sox1-3
09/16L@Blue Jays1-5

That form points different directions. Washington took 2 of the first 3 from St. Louis before dropping the finale, and split its last two with Philadelphia. Detroit hasn't had that kind of week — it's lost 2 straight and dropped 4 of its last 4 to a White Sox team that just clinched its first losing record since 2023.

Washington Nationals
(8)
  • 15-Day-ILOrlando Ribalta (RP) — MRI results on Ribalta's right forearm came back negative Tuesday, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.09/09
  • 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP) — Herz (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list and start Monday's contest against the Tigers, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.09/20
  • 60-Day-ILConnelly Early (SP) — Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said Wednesday that Early (elbow) is tentatively scheduled to make his team debut Sept. 26 against the Mets, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.09/17
  • 60-Day-ILMatt Waldron (RP) — The Nationals placed Waldron on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Saturday, with chest inflammation.09/12
  • 60-Day-ILDrew Millas (C) — Millas will undergo surgery Friday on his fractured left index finger, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.09/10
  • 60-Day-ILPJ Poulin (RP) — The Nationals transferred Poulin (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.08/02
  • 60-Day-ILMitchell Parker (RP) — Parker underwent elbow ligament repair surgery with an internal brace Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.07/30
  • 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP) — Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure April 21 and is hopeful to return to game action at some point early in the 2027 season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.06/11
Detroit Tigers
(13)
  • Day-To-DayNewTroy Melton (SP) — Melton exited Sunday's 8-1 loss to the White Sox in the fourth inning with right arm discomfort, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.09/21
  • 10-Day-ILKerry Carpenter (RF) — The Tigers announced Friday that Carpenter (foot) has ramped up his running and hitting progression with the hope of returning from the injured list before the end of the season, MLB.com reports.09/17
  • 15-Day-ILKyle Finnegan (RP) — The Tigers placed Finnegan on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to Wednesday, with left groin inflammation.09/17
  • 15-Day-ILJack Flaherty (SP) — Flaherty (forearm) is slated to throw a 2-to-3-inning simulated game Saturday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.09/11
  • 60-Day-ILJustin Verlander (SP) — Verlander (hamstring/hip) threw a mound session Saturday with hitters standing in, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.09/12
  • 60-Day-ILWenceel Perez (RF) — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Friday that Perez (orbital) is "most likely" done for the season, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.09/11
  • 60-Day-ILMatt Vierling (CF) — The Tigers transferred Vierling (adductor/heel) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.09/06
  • 60-Day-ILWill Vest (RP) — Vest (elbow) underwent hip surgery Tuesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.08/11
  • 60-Day-ILBurch Smith (RP) — Smith is being evaluated after exiting a rehab appearance with Triple-A Toledo on Thursday with right shoulder/lat discomfort, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.07/24
  • 60-Day-ILBailey Horn (RP) — Horn (elbow) will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.07/18
  • 60-Day-ILParker Meadows (CF) — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Meadows (forearm) has yet to resume hitting and is without a timeline to return from the 60-day injured list, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.06/25
  • 60-Day-ILTrey Sweeney (SS) — Sweeney will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery this week, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.06/05
  • 60-Day-ILReese Olson (SP) — The Tigers placed Olson on the 60-day injured list Tuesday after he underwent a right shoulder labral repair Feb. 2 that will result in him missing the 2026 season.05/08

Herz's rehab climb back wasn't clean, either — 7 walks in 18 innings across his final tune-up starts before Monday's activation, the kind of command rust that shows up fast against a lineup willing to work counts. With both bullpens shorthanded and both starters an unknown quantity, this is a game more likely to get away from somebody than stay tidy.

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