Winless in four starts (0-4) since coming off the IL on July 14th, with a 7.65 ERA, a 7.01 FIP, 16 Ks collected, and nine walks and six home runs allowed in 20 innings pitched, over which opposing hitters had a .273/.352/.533 line, 38-year-old, 16-year veteran Aníbal Sánchez did not get off to the start he and the Washington Nationals were hoping he might when they signed him to be part of the starting mix after a season off in 2021.
A cervical nerve impingement in his neck at the end of Spring Training delayed the return of the right-hander, who was part of the World Series winning roster in 2019, before struggling through 2020’s 60-game campaign.