The Rotation (2026)

[imref]

via starsstrikesbb: The Nats have approached Griffin about an extension.

[tomterp]

via starsstrikesbb: The Nats have approached Griffin about an extension.

 

[IdahoNat]

via starsstrikesbb: The Nats have approached Griffin about an extension.

As I said before, I'd rather them try to extend him and he regresses rather than trading him for a prospect who even may turn out to be decent on the principle  of the move alone. We've been doing this pump and dump of players for six years now and it's time for them to take some risks and try to establish some continuity in the clubhouse. Extend Young too for that same reason.

[Slateman]

Good. If you can extend him,  excellent. If not, trade him at the deadline and look to re-sign him in the offseason. Turns 31 this year. A four year deal for $50-60 million would be really good for both parties

[imref]

Cavalli scatched tonight due to illness. Poulin will open.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Cavalli scatched tonight due to illness. Poulin will open.

Mikolas on regular rest behind Poulin

[GataNats]

When are we gonna stop fking around and make Lord a starter

[JCA-CrystalCity]

When are we gonna stop fking around and make Lord a starter

I'm not on board with this. He's very effective in his current role. He provides important innings when he's spotted in as a reliever. He's giving the Nats almost as many innings as a starter but most of the time stop the bleeding and bridge things from starters / bulk guys to the set up/ closer.

Just  looking at the 4 bulk guys who have pitched since 5/1 (ie, Cavalli, Mikolas, Littell, and Griffin), they've made 36 starts and thrown 186 innings, or between 5 and 5.1 innings per appearance, 46-47 innings per pitcher.  Lord threw 13 times for 29.1 innings, or  roughly 2 and a quarter innings per appearance. Over that stretch, he's our best pitcher in terms of shutdowns appearances vs meltdowns (adding win probability). You start throwing him more innings in the rotation, he probably loses something off his velocity and effectiveness and you don't have the ability to spot those innings in spots critical to game outcome (higher leverage).

Lord and Ribalta have been critical in important spots. That's probably part of how the pitching staff is just much better than its on paper talent.

If you are stat inclined, look at this  run of win probability stats since 5/1:
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&type=3&season=2026&month=1000&season1=2026&ind=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&team=24&startdate=2026-05-01&enddate=2026-11-01&sortcol=2&sortdir=default&pagenum=1

[Squab]

Great article this morning about the Nats pitch design team and how they’re working on enhancing guys stuff and developing new pitches. Both majors and minors. Share link:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7381486/2026/06/22/washington-nationals-pitch-design-team-development/?unlocked_article_code=1.sFA.SeQQ.UoecTMIw6GYq

[imref]

Great article this morning about the Nats pitch design team and how they’re working on enhancing guys stuff and developing new pitches. Both majors and minors. Share link:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7381486/2026/06/22/washington-nationals-pitch-design-team-development/?unlocked_article_code=1.sFA.SeQQ.UoecTMIw6GYq

thanks for sharing.

[welch]

Great article by Nussbaum, explaining how the new Nats "pitch designers" worked with Cavalli and Lord on a sweeper, and how they have spent the last two weeks with Parker.

[imref]

Lord opening for Alvarez today.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Lord opening for Alvarez today.

Posted lineup doesn't have Lord opening. With Siegler and Abreu hitting 1st and 3rd and being the only lefties in the lineup today, it doesn't  make sense to use a righty  for the 1st.

[imref]

Posted lineup doesn't have Lord opening. With Siegler and Abreu hitting 1st and 3rd and being the only lefties in the lineup today, it doesn't  make sense to use a righty  for the 1st.

Nats.talk had reported Lord opening. this shows Lord too:

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/nationals-vs-red-sox/2026/07/01/824740/preview

[JCA-CrystalCity]

line up has been changed to reflect Lord opening.  I hope that he's able to go once through the order because the bottom of the Sox lineup has a lot of righties.

[Slateman]

line up has been changed to reflect Lord opening.  I hope that he's able to go once through the order because the bottom of the Sox lineup has a lot of righties.

Alvarez has actually been better against rightes than lefties, though he has been better against lefties than Lord has.

I don't like using Lord as an opener. I think you genuinely need him at the back of the bullpen. This seems like the time to use Lawrence or even Cornelio

[IdahoNat]

Anyone way smarter than me figure out how it might change with Cavalli suspended and gonna miss his next start? (and Mikolas too).

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Anyone way smarter than me figure out how it might change with Cavalli suspended and gonna miss his next start? (and Mikolas too).

I think Mikolas's spot is Sunday and Cav Monday? Who is lined up in Rochester Sunday? Start him and maybe try to do Lord and Palmquist and Cornelio the other.

[varoadking]

They need to appeal these suspensions...they are beyond the pale...

Manfred is what we would have called in the 50's...a Dope.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think the idea of giving Mikolas a 5 game suspension was to more or less push him back a day. The 7 games to Cavalli was to make him miss a turn. 7 games to Contreras was the most impactful of the suspensions. Eaton's 3 games is comparable to Mikolas's. Maybe he misses a start as a short-side platoon player

[JCA-CrystalCity]

IF Cavalli doesn't appeal, then he get 1 start vs the NYY before the ASB. If Mikolas appeals, starts tomorrow or Sunday, then drops his appeal, he can get in 2 starts before the ASB (for better or worse - it's still Miles Mikolas).

Griffin gets today's start and Wednesday vs the Astros (7/8).
Alvarez last pitched Wednesday, so he can go Monday  on regular rest (7/6) and potentially start Saturday or Sunday vs the NYY.
Littell's next  turn is Saturday 7/4. He looks like next Friday's starter given Alvarez's and Griffin's availability being < 4 days rest and Mikolas and Cavalli likely to be still  suspended.

Mikolas could pitch Saturday or Sunday (7/4 or 5) if he appeals and his case is not hear, then drop the appeal and be available for Saturday and/or Sunday vs the NYY.
Best way to ensure Cavalli gets a start before the ASB is for him not to appeal. Then he can go Saturday or Sunday vs the NYY. Alternatively, he can appeal and try to  pitch Sunday, then drop it; doing that, he's available 2nd game after the ASB.

Next Tuesday looks like a bullpen game. IF Alvarez is held  until Tuesday, the Monday is the bullpen game and Alvarez can be available 7/12.

How's  this for a rotation to the ASB:
7/3 - Griffin
7/4 - Mikolas
7/5 -- Littell
7/6 - Alvarez
7/7 - Bullpen
7/8 - Griffin

7/10 - Litttell
7/11 - Cavalli
7/12 - Alvarez / Mikolas

[Natsinpwc]

At some point they just need to sign another starter. Someone off the scrap heap and give it a chance.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

At some point they just need to sign another starter. Someone off the scrap heap and give it a chance.

Cornelio for now.

I think maybe they try to slot in a bullpen game if one of the shaky starters gives them length. Littell or maybe Mikolas

[imref]

Maybe time to call up Kent (though it would require a DFA).

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Both Mikolas and Cavalli are appealing their suspensions.

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/nationals-miles-mikolas-contesting-five-game-ban/

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/nationals-cade-cavalli-decides-to-appeal-suspension/

Both are still scheduled for their next turns. Mikolas Sunday, Cavalli Monday.