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Nationals' Jake Irvin: Handed loss in piggyback role Saturday
Rotowire
Irvin (2-10) took the loss Saturday, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks over five innings of relief as the Nationals were downed 7-1 by the Mets. He struck out six.
Piggybacking with Connelly Early in the southpaw's Washington debut, Irvin inherited a 1-0 lead but couldn't make it hold up, serving up seventh-inning homers to A.J. Ewing and Ronny Mauricio. Irvin ends the campaign having lost all six of his decisions since returning from a shoulder strain in late July, stumbling to a 5.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 52:26 K:BB over 55 innings in that span while getting tagged for 13 homers.
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Nationals' Connelly Early: Impressive in short Nats debut
Rotowire
Early didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 7-1 loss to the Mets, allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.
Making his first appearance as a National after being acquired from the Red Sox in late July for Curtis Mead (wrist), Early was on a strict pitch count after recovering from elbow inflammation that had kept him on the shelf since June 30. The 24-year-old southpaw made the most of his limited workload, firing 21 of 34 pitches for strikes and facing just one batter over the minimum. Early wraps up his season with a 3.33 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 94:34 K:BB through 94.2 innings, and with a healthy offseason he'll head into 2027 as one of the top arms in the Washington rotation alongside Cade Cavalli.
Young isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets.
Young will get some rest Saturday after going 2-for-4 during a win in Friday's series opener. While he sits, Daylen Lile, Dylan Crews and James Wood will start across the outfield.
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Nationals' Chase Hampton: Jettisoned from 40-man
Rotowire
The Nationals designated Hampton for assignment Saturday.
Hampton was claimed off waivers from the Yankees on Sept. 12, and he'll now be pushed off the 40-man roster before making his organizational debut. His roster spot will go to Connelly Early (elbow), who returned from the 60-day IL to start Saturday's game against the Mets.
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Nationals' Luis Perales: Sent down to Rochester
Rotowire
The Nationals optioned Perales to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.
Perales will be kicked out of the Nationals' bullpen to make room on the active roster for Connelly Early (elbow), who was activated from the IL to start Saturday's contest. Perales didn't find much success during his first stint in the majors, allowing 14 earned runs in just 11 innings while recording a 13:13 K:BB.
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Nationals' Connelly Early: Activated for start
Rotowire
The Nationals reinstated Early (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Saturday.
Out since July 1 with left elbow inflammation, Early has since been traded from Boston to Washington and will be making his debut with the Nationals on Saturday. The left-hander pitched just 2.2 innings over the course of two rehab outings and is expected to throw roughly 2-to-3 innings Saturday before handing the ball to Jake Irvin for bulk-relief work. Luis Perales was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the active roster for Early, and Chase Hampton was DFA'd to clear a 40-man spot.
Nationals' Josiah Gray: Records first major-league save Friday
Rotowire
Gray earned the save in Friday's 7-6 win over the Mets, when he issued a walk and struck out a batter in the ninth inning.
Both Jack Sinclair and Yovanny Cruz saw action earlier in Friday's game, and rather than go with Erik Tolman, the Nationals opted to roll with Gray to close things out. Gray needed 18 pitches (10 strikes) to secure the win for Washington, finishing things off by striking out A.J. Ewing. Not only was it the first save of Gray's career, but it was also his first opportunity at a save since making his major-league debut in 2021.
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Nationals' Dylan Crews: Homers, swipes two bags Friday
Rotowire
Crews went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two steals and two additional runs scored during the Nationals' 7-6 win over the Mets on Friday.
It was the second time in three games that Crews logged two steals, and his solo homer in the seventh ended up being the game-winning run for the Nationals. The 24-year-old outfielder is slashing .224/.290/.375 with 13 steals, 113 home runs, 44 RBI and 54 runs scored across 435 plate appearances this season.
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Nationals' Andrew Alvarez: Fans seven in no-decision
Rotowire
Alvarez did not factor into the decision Friday against the Mets, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out seven across 4.2 innings.
Friday was the first time since July 7 against the Astros that Alvarez had given up more than three earned runs in a start, a streak that spanned 12 outings. He gave up runs in three of the five frame he pitched in, including solo home runs to Bo Bichette and Carson Benge in the fifth. It was a bit of a disappointing way to wrap up the 2026 regular season for Alvarez, but the 27-year-old southpaw will end the year with a 3.43 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 114:51 K:BB across 112.2 innings.
Nationals' Connelly Early: Making Nationals debut Saturday
Rotowire
Early (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list and make his Nationals debut with a start Saturday versus the Mets, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Early is scheduled to throw 2-to-3 innings before handing things over to Jake Irvin, who will serve in a bulk relief role. The left-handed Early was acquired from the Red Sox at the trade deadline while recovering from left elbow inflammation, an injury that's kept him from appearing in the majors since late June. Early made two rehab starts, logging a total of 2.2 innings while allowing six runs (three earned) with a 4:5 K:BB.
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Nationals' Nasim Nunez: Exiting starting nine
Rotowire
Nunez is not in the lineup for Friday's tilt versus the Mets.
Nunez set a new Nationals record with his 48th and 49th stolen bases in his team's last game Wednesday against the Tigers, but he will begin Friday's series opener on the bench. CJ Abrams will be at shortstop and Jorbit Vivas will handle second base for the Nationals.
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Nationals' Connelly Early: Set to join Washington for final series
Rotowire
Early (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list to make his Nationals debut at some point during this weekend's series versus the Mets, MLB.com reports.
Acquired from the Red Sox back on July 26, Early finally appears ready to join the Nationals following a lengthy recovery from left elbow inflammation. He made his second and final rehab appearance this past Sunday at Triple-A Rochester, yielding three unearned runs over 1.2 innings while tossing 40 pitches. Since Early isn't stretched out enough to handle a traditional starting role, the Nationals could look to have him piggyback either Jake Irvin or DJ Herz, who will start Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Nationals' Nasim Nunez: Sets franchise steals record
Rotowire
Nunez went 1-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Tigers.
Getting the start at shortstop and batting ninth, Nunez swiped second and third base after poking a one-out single in the seventh inning, putting himself in position to score the Nationals' final run of the night. In the process, he became the franchise's single-season steals leader with 49, passing the 47 stolen bases CJ Abrams produced in 2023. Nunez is three steals clear of the Rays' Chandler Simpson for the major-league lead, with less than a week remaining on the calendar.
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Nationals' Yovanny Cruz: Notches first career save
Rotowire
Cruz gave up a run on three hits over 1.1 innings Wednesday, recording his first career save in a 4-2 win over the Tigers. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The right-hander topped out at 100 mph with his sinker as he gets another chance to establish himself as a high-leverage option for the Nationals. Acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline, Cruz has struggled in his first exposure to big-league hitters this season, and through 9.2 innings for the Nats he's stumbled to a 7.45 ERA, 2.17 WHIP and 8:8 K:BB. He has some of the best pure stuff on the staff, however, and is working on adding a splitter to his repertoire as a weapon against lefties. Cruz could have a very prominent spot in Washington's bullpen plans next year.
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Nationals' Will Dion: Gets win in relief Wednesday
Rotowire
Dion (2-2) picked up the win in Wednesday's 4-2 victory over the Tigers, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over two relief innings. He struck out four.
Brad Lord took on the largest workload during a bullpen day for the Nationals, tossing 3.1 scoreless frames ahead of Dion, but the southpaw was the pitcher of record when his team broke open a scoreless tie with a three-run sixth inning. Dion has been a versatile option since being acquired from the Guardians at the trade deadline, and over 14 appearances (one start) and 28 innings for the Nats he's produced a 3.21 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 28:13 K:BB with two wins, a save and a hold.
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