James Wood
Breakdown
Performance
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September 6, 2026
Posts steal Saturday
Wood went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Dodgers.
Analysis
Wood has gone 4-for-13 with two doubles and one RBI over three games since he returned from an oblique injury. This was his first steal since his activation off the injured list. The outfielder is up to 18 steals on 20 attempts this year. He's added a .267 batting average, .925 OPS, 30 home runs, 74 RBI, 101 runs scored, 28 doubles and one triple across 117 contests.
September 2, 2026
Making return from injured list
The Nationals activated Wood (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis
Wood was shelved for nearly a month with a left oblique strain, but he's ready to roll after going 2-for-6 with one home run in two rehab contests. The All-Star outfielder has swatted 30 home runs, stolen 17 bases and collected a .928 OPS across 114 games for the Nationals this season. Wood is starting in right field and batting leadoff in Wednesday's game versus Atlanta.
September 2, 2026
Expected back Wednesday
Wood (oblique) is expected to be activated from the injured list Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Analysis
Manager Blake Butera said that Wood's return is contingent on him feeling good when he wakes up Wednesday morning, but chances are that he returns to the Nationals' lineup for their series finale against Atlanta. The 23-year-old has slashed .265/.393/.535 across 535 plate appearances when healthy this season, though he owns just a .620 OPS in the 17 games he's played since the All-Star break.
August 31, 2026
Likely needs one more rehab game
Wood (oblique) is expected to play in at least one more rehab game this week before returning from the 10-day injured list, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Analysis
Wood kicked off a rehab assignment Sunday at Double-A Harrisburg, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run while playing six innings in left field. All of the Nationals' affiliates are off Monday, so Wood will presumably wait until Tuesday before playing in his next minor-league game. If Wood is able to get in a full nine innings Tuesday and if feels fine physically coming out of that contest, he could then be activated as soon as Wednesday. The All-Star outfielder has been on the shelf since Aug. 4 due to a left oblique strain.