Gray to start again for Rochester, Cavalli feeling better, Gallo progressing

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – By most conventional measurements, Josiah Gray should be ready to return from the injured list.

The Nationals right-hander, out since mid-April with a flexor strain in his elbow, has made four rehab starts this month, adding one inning each time out and maxing out at six innings Tuesday for Triple-A Rochester. That most recent start also was by far his best of the group, with only one run and four hits allowed, not to mention zero walks issued. He completed those six innings on only 73 pitches, but he got to 79 pitches the previous time on the mound.

So why aren’t the Nats activating Gray yet?

“I want to make sure when he comes back he’s ready,” manager Davey Martinez said. “We cleaned up his mechanics a little bit. The other day he felt really good, and he rebounded really well. So we’ll get him back out there.”

So Gray is remaining in Rochester and is scheduled to start Sunday, when he could throw as many as seven innings and build up his pitch count to 90.

The unspoken other side of the equation: Patrick Corbin has been pitching well, earning himself the right to remain in the rotation after weeks of speculation the struggling left-hander was on the verge of getting bumped to the bullpen.

Corbin, who remains 1-7 with a 5.46 ERA in 16 starts, has been appreciably better of late. In his last three starts, he has a 2.60 ERA and 0.981 WHIP. The veteran has already been named the Nats’ starter for Sunday’s series finale against the Rays.

* Cade Cavalli is feeling better after battling the flu earlier in the week, but the Nationals haven’t decided yet when he’ll resume his rehab assignment.

Cavalli tossed three hitless innings on 35 pitches last Friday for High-A Wilmington and was poised to return the mound and build up his workload this week. But the right-hander got sick, so the club decided to wait until he’s doing better before getting him back up again.

Cavalli did play catch today, according to Martinez, showing signs of progress.

“He was really sick, so we wanted to make sure he gets his strength back before he gets back on the mound again,” the manager said. “Hopefully we’ll get him back here soon.”

* Joey Gallo has been riding an exercise bike, playing catch from 120 feet and hitting off a tee, all positive developments in his return from a hamstring strain. Martinez said he hopes the veteran first baseman will be cleared to resume more baseball activities soon.