Washington Nationals place All-Star James Wood on 10‑day IL with oblique strain

The Washington Nationals placed All-Star outfielder James Wood on the 10‑day injured list after an MRI confirmed a mild left oblique strain. It was Wood’s first stint on the IL; he had appeared in 350 of the team’s 355 games and was batting .265 with 30 home runs, 73 RBIs, and league‑leading 100 runs and 90 walks, positioning him as a National League MVP candidate.

Manager Blake Butera said the injury is expected to keep Wood out for at least ten days. In the same roster move, the club promoted outfielder Andrew Pinckney from Triple‑A Rochester, giving him his first major‑league contract. Additional bullpen adjustments were made, with right‑hander Yovanny Cruz and left‑hander Will Dion added to the big‑league roster.

The injury comes as the Nationals chase a playoff push, and Wood’s absence could affect both the team’s performance and his standing in the MVP race.