The Washington Nationals optioned pitcher Jackson Rutledge to Triple-A Rochester after his solid MLB start on Friday, where he allowed two runs and struck out six in 4.2 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite his performance, the Nationals made room for reliever Eduardo Salazar on the roster. Rutledge's demotion leaves the Nationals with four healthy starters, with uncertainty about who will fill the fifth rotation spot post-All-Star break. The Nationals ended a five-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Brewers, backed by a strong offensive showing and Jesse Winker's 11th home run of the season.