Ribalta Injured, Cruz Called Up | Washington Nationals News

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Orlando Ribalta, a pitcher who's really stepped up his game for the Nationals this season, just got put on the injured list. He's dealing with some inflammation in his right forearm, and the team is waiting on the results of an MRI to see how serious it is. This is a tough break because he's become a key guy in the late innings for them. Ribalta has been pretty solid, posting a 3.77 earned run average over 43 innings. He's been especially good against left-handed batters, holding them to a really low average. He's also shown he can handle pressure situations, like getting out of jams with the bases loaded. He told the manager he couldn't pitch before a recent game because of discomfort on the outside of his right forearm. It's something he's managed before, but it got to a point where he just couldn't go.
Losing him is a big blow, especially considering how effective he's been in those crucial late game moments. In response, the Nationals called up Yovanny Cruz from their minor league team in Rochester.
Cruz is getting another shot with the big club after struggling a bit earlier and working on his slider. He's hoping to find more consistency this time around. This move definitely shakes up the bullpen dynamic. Ribalta's ability to shut down lefties and perform under pressure made him a valuable asset. Now, the team will have to adjust their strategy and rely on other arms to fill that void.