The Washington Nationals returned from rehab, reinstated right-handed pitcher Aníbal Sánchez from the 60-day Injured List, and optioned right-handed pitcher Mason Thompson to Triple-A Rochester. To make room for Sanchez on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg has been transferred to the 60-day Injured List. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Sánchez, 38, joins the Nationals for the first time in 2022. He made four Minor League appearances this season, one in the Florida Complex League and three for Triple-A Rochester. Sánchez combined to go 0–1 with a 4.02 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 15.2 innings. In his last start in Triple-A on July 8, he worked 5.1 innings and allowed one earned run on four hits.

A 15-year veteran, Sánchez will return to the Major Leagues for the first time since 2020. He is 112–113 with a 4.05 ERA and 1726 strikeouts in his career. In two seasons with the Nationals (2019–20), he is 15–13 with a 4.52 ERA, including going 11–8 with a 3.85 ERA during the Nationals' 2019 World Series season. Sánchez went 1–1 with a 2.50 ERA in three starts during the 2019 playoffs.

Thompson, 24, went 0–0 with a 0.00 ERA in seven games this season.