Author Topic: The Rotation (2026) (Read 1755 times)

imref · « **Reply #25 on:** March 10, 2026, 01:29:53 am »

Cavalli is the OD starter per The Nats Report.

imref · « **Reply #26 on:** March 11, 2026, 10:22:29 am »

Nats officially announce Cade as the opening day starter.

imref · « **Reply #27 on:** March 14, 2026, 01:34:08 pm »

Rotation projection: https://www.talknats.com/2026/03/13/rotations-from-double-a-triple-a-to-mlb-for-the-nats-organization/

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #28 on:** March 14, 2026, 05:32:07 pm »

Quote from: imref on March 14, 2026, 01:34:08 pm

Rotation projection: https://www.talknats.com/2026/03/13/rotations-from-double-a-triple-a-to-mlb-for-the-nats-organization/

not buying it. I could see Irvin keeping a spot if Littell or Gray is not ready and on the IL, but I don't see Gray as out of the rotation if he's healthy.

nobleisthyname · « **Reply #29 on:** March 15, 2026, 06:23:44 am »

Makes more sense to me to convert Lara to being a reliever before doing so with Perales.

Slateman · « **Reply #30 on:** March 15, 2026, 12:27:45 pm »

Quote from: nobleisthyname on March 15, 2026, 06:23:44 am

Makes more sense to me to convert Lara to being a reliever before doing so with Perales.

You can convert both. Perales is too small to sustain velo over 5+ innings. He and Susana can be the back end of our bullpen.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #31 on:** March 15, 2026, 12:31:31 pm »

Still an open q whether Susana will start.

Slateman · « **Reply #32 on:** March 17, 2026, 02:16:34 pm »

If you are going to delay the start of Littell and Gray's seasons, Jake Irvin is making a strong push for being in the OD rotation.

His curveball in particular seems to have much more depth than previous years

imref · « **Reply #33 on:** March 17, 2026, 02:25:28 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on March 17, 2026, 02:16:34 pm

If you are going to delay the start of Littell and Gray's seasons, Jake Irvin is making a strong push for being in the OD rotation.

His curveball in particular seems to have much more depth than previous years

heck of an outing today. I think he makes it over Lord, so Littell, Mikolas, Irvin, Cavalli, and Griffin

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #34 on:** March 17, 2026, 02:34:17 pm »

With Lord in the bullpen

Slateman · « **Reply #35 on:** March 17, 2026, 03:07:18 pm »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on March 17, 2026, 02:34:17 pm

With Lord in the bullpen

That's another decision they have to make. Do they want to keep Lord as a starter, or make him a reliever?

GataNats · « **Reply #36 on:** March 17, 2026, 10:43:19 pm »

Irvin has been amazing

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #37 on:** March 18, 2026, 11:17:48 am »

Quote from: GataNats on March 17, 2026, 10:43:19 pm

Irvin has been amazing

Sam Sallick at Federal Baseball points to not really a change in the pitches he throws but a big change in the pitch mix:

Quote

If Irvin can throw quality strikes and manipulate the ball effectively, he does not need to throw 95 plus to be effective. We saw that in his start against the Cardinals yesterday. His fastball only averaged 92, but he was so unpredictable that it did not matter. Irvin threw all six of his pitches at least 9% of the time.

Last year, Irvin also technically had six pitches, but he mainly threw a 4-seam, a sinker and a curveball. He threw a changeup 8% of the time and used his cutter and slider 4% each. In his start yesterday, he used the cutter 14% of the time, the changeup at a 12% clip and his slider at a 9% rate.

This new mix has allowed Irvin to get more strikeouts this spring. He only struck out 6.2 batters per 9 innings in 2025. However, he has 15 strikeouts in 13.1 innings so far this spring. Last spring, he only struck out 9 batters in 16.1 innings. That is a very good sign for Irvin.

https://www.federalbaseball.com/washington-nationals-analysis/89474/jake-irvin-making-case-for-final-spot-washington-nationals-rotation

Kind of a move away from the Hickey-dinosaur approach of 50%+ fastballs.

nobleisthyname · « **Reply #38 on:** March 18, 2026, 07:38:19 pm »

Lord was a lot better as a reliever last season.

IanRubbish · « **Reply #39 on:** March 18, 2026, 07:49:23 pm »

In spite of Gore leaving, looks more promising than last year's rotation which fell apart in the 2nd half. Team ERA was 29th of 30 last year, I could see them ranking 25th or 26th this year.

imref · « **Reply #40 on:** March 19, 2026, 09:56:42 am »

Gray optioned

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #41 on:** March 19, 2026, 10:10:59 am »

Quote from: imref on March 19, 2026, 09:56:42 am

Gray optioned

Maybe that's a good sign. He looks healthy but needs innings. They could have started him in the majors under limits, but they have enough pitching that it's convenient to do the right thing.

So, Cavalli plus the 3 FAs (Littell, Griffin, Mikolas), and likely Irvin. If Littell isn't ready, there's Lord for now. Gray comes up when he's stretched and there's a need due a fail or injury.

Mikolas gets some leash, as does Irvin.

imref · « **Reply #42 on:** March 19, 2026, 04:58:10 pm »

Littell says he'll make one more ST start with the minor league players before joining the team for opening day.

zimm_da_kid · « **Reply #43 on:** March 19, 2026, 11:11:39 pm »

Mikolas is trash. Hasn't been good in years. He's a Corbin (lotta innings, doesn't miss starts, terrible results). Griffin I love becasue it's pure upside. Littell has actually been good recently. Mikolas is the one who should get absolutely zero leash

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #44 on:** March 20, 2026, 09:47:33 am »

I'm not sure they needed Mikolas once they signed Litttell. I think he's here due to timing. There are guys in AAA I'd like to see get a shot. Let's hope he's not worse than a mid-4s ERA.

Slateman · « **Reply #45 on:** March 20, 2026, 10:18:01 am »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on March 20, 2026, 09:47:33 am

I'm not sure they needed Mikolas once they signed Litttell. I think he's here due to timing. There are guys in AAA I'd like to see get a shot. Let's hope he's not worse than a mid-4s ERA.

Its pretty obvious that neither the Nationals nor Littell thought Littell was going to sign for so little. I'm betting that if he had to do it over again, Toboni wouldn't have signed Mikolis.

imref · « **Reply #46 on:** March 20, 2026, 10:28:29 am »

Quote from: Slateman on March 20, 2026, 10:18:01 am

Its pretty obvious that neither the Nationals nor Littell thought Littell was going to sign for so little. I'm betting that if he had to do it over again, Toboni wouldn't have signed Mikolis.

Alvarez and Lord are both better options IMHO. Alvarez has done nothing but pitch well in every opportunity he's received (2.31 ERA in 5 starts last year, 2.00 ERA in 2 starts this year. )

tomterp · « **Reply #47 on:** March 20, 2026, 11:25:38 am »

Quote from: imref on March 20, 2026, 10:28:29 am

Alvarez and Lord are both better options IMHO. Alvarez has done nothing but pitch well in every opportunity he's received (2.31 ERA in 5 starts last year, 2.00 ERA in 2 starts this year. )

Totally agreed, he can't do more than he's done to merit an MLB rotation spot. But, inevitably pitcher depth gets used. Somebody's going to get dinged and he'll be up soon enough.

imref · « **Reply #48 on:** March 20, 2026, 11:35:22 am »

Quote from: tomterp on March 20, 2026, 11:25:38 am

Totally agreed, he can't do more than he's done to merit an MLB rotation spot. But, inevitably pitcher depth gets used. Somebody's going to get dinged and he'll be up soon enough.

yep. it will be nice at least to have some rotation depth this year with Lord, Gray, and Alvarez.

aspenbubba · « **Reply #49 on:** March 20, 2026, 11:51:22 am »

Quote from: tomterp on March 20, 2026, 11:25:38 am

Totally agreed, he can't do more than he's done to merit an MLB rotation spot. But, inevitably pitcher depth gets used. Somebody's going to get dinged and he'll be up soon enough.

We should probably have a poll to see who of the OD starting 5 is the first to go ( not including an injury but performance). My vote is Mikolis.