What It Means:

The session went well, but the Nationals want him to appear in back-to-back games for Double-A Harrisburg before rejoining the Nats. It's likely he'll be ready to return to D.C. this weekend with his 3.28 ERA, but in the meantime, Shawn Kelley will act as the team's closer in his absence.

Papelbon's 4.82 xFIP is more than a point higher than his ERA, and his 18.6 strikeout percentage is below the current league average for relievers (22.5 percent), as well as being a personal career low. Our models project him to record a 3.43 ERA and a 22.7 strikeout percentage over the remaining course of the season.