WASHINGTON -- Nationals left-hander DJ Herz was placed on the 15-day major league injured list Tuesday because of a sprained ligament in his pitching elbow.
Herz was optioned down to Triple-A Rochester on Friday, one of the final cuts from camp.
He was 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA this spring in four appearances, three starts.
Herz, 24, is a starting pitcher who made his big league debut last June and went 4-9 with a 4.16 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 88⅔ innings across 19 appearances in 2024.
Washington will need to set its roster Thursday ahead of its opening game against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.