ST. LOUIS -- Jeremy Hellickson walked around the Nationals' clubhouse with his right wrist bandaged on Thursday, still sore but without much of an update after he was forced to leave Wednesday night's game after landing awkwardly attempting to cover home plate on a wild pitch.
Hellickson will undergo an MRI on Friday in D.C., after which Washington will make a determination as to whether Hellickson will require a stint on the disabled list. However, manager Dave Martinez said the right-hander will need to throw a bullpen session before he is able to make his next scheduled start, and at the moment, his wrist is in no shape to complete the task.
"He's pretty tender on the inside of his wrist," Martinez said. "He's going to get an MRI and we'll see where we go from there."
Hellickson injured his wrist in the fifth inning of a 4-2 loss to the Cardinals when he tried to jump over a sliding Harrison Bader, who was attempting to score on a wild pitch, and broke his fall by planting his hand on the ground. He tried to toss a few warmup pitches, but he had trouble gripping the ball. X-rays on the wrist were negative.
Even though he has rarely pitched deep into games, Hellickson has been one of the Nats' most consistent starters, posting a 3.57 ERA in 18 starts. He missed nearly a month with a hamstring injury earlier this season, and now this injury seems almost certain to sideline him as well.
The good news for Washington is that Stephen Strasburg appears to be near a return to the rotation. He felt good following his simulated game and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday, which could line him up to return to the rotation as soon as Tuesday night against the Phillies.
'Good chance' Ross joins the Nats in September
After a pair of outings in the Gulf Coast League, Joe Ross made a Minor League rehab start for Class A Advanced Potomac on Thursday afternoon. He yielded just one hit and threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his most extensive test since undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer.
Ross has stated that his goal is to return this season and pitch for Washington in some capacity, either as a starter or in the bullpen, and Martinez said on Thursday there is a "good chance" he will return as a September callup once rosters expand.
"They said he had good action on his fastball, which is good, because that's who he is," Martinez said. "He threw well. If he's ready, it would be nice to have him up here in September."
Fedde to begin rehab assignment
Erick Fedde will begin a Minor League rehab assignment on Monday as he recovers from right shoulder inflammation. Fedde participated in a simulated game Wednesday at Busch Stadium and threw about 50 pitches alongside Strasburg. The Nats transferred him to the 60-day disabled list, pushing his return to Sept. 3 at the earliest, so the team will give him at least three rehab outings before he is activated.
Fedde, Washington's fifth-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, has been on the DL since July 5.