Friday’s News & Notes
| Nats Trade Finnegan, Call For Four More Pitchers
MacKenzie Gore stayed put, but the Nats took a page from the well-worn Billy Beane playbook and got the Tigers to overpay for Kyle Finnegan, then dealt While (too) much will be made about how many of the trade pickups are now part of the Nats’ latest Top 30, that none of them have supplanted suspects who need not be named is telling. At best, the WaPo subhead sums it up: The Nats refurbished their farm system. The trades for so many pitchers this week underscores what even Stevie Wonder can see: Washington has struggled to develop its own pitchers and keep them healthy – Yoel Tejeda Jr. at #18 is the highest ranked, Nats-drafted/signed without injury issues (knock on wood). Further further ado, here are the four pitchers acquired yesterday:
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| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Lost, 7-5 | @ Charlotte, 7:04pm | TBD vs Scholtens (1-1, 5.63) |
| Harrisburg | Postponed | @ Binghamton, 6:07pm | Sampson (0-0, 2.31) vs Gordon (2-0, 4.96) |
| Wilmington | Postponed | vs. Hudson Valley, 4pm | Sthele (5-4, 4.16) and Susana (0-2, 5.40) vs. Ziehl (1-0, 2.25) and Hess (4-2, 3.65) |
| Fredericksburg | Won, 5-2 | @ Columbia, 7:05pm | Johnson (0-1, 3.68) vs. Gutierrez (0-2, 6.60) |
| DSL Nationals | Won, 7-5 | @ DSL Tigers 1, 11am |
Charlotte 7 Rochester 5
• Cavalli (L, 3-7) 4+ IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 0BB, 7K, 3HBP
• Powell 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Pinckney 2-4, R, 2B, RBI
• Schnell 2-4, R, 2B, 3K, SB
• Cluff 2-5, R, 3B, HR, 3RBI
A three-run 4th followed by a four-run 5th put into a Rochester 7-1 hole that Charlotte’s pitchers held for a 7-5 win. Cade Cavalli failed to go five full innings for the ninth time in 17 starts, giving up four runs on six hits and three Robles over four-plus innings. He walked none and struck out seven in his seventh loss. Andrew Pinckney and Nick Schnell both went 2-for-4 with double and a run scored while Jackson Cluff tripled, homered, and drove in three to lead the Red Wings offense. Roster moves: OF Christian Franklin assigned from Washington.
Harrisburg vs. Binghamton – PPD
The rains that swept through the Midwest and Northeast claimed the game between the Senators and the Rumble Ponies. They’ll shoot to make it up tomorrow with a twi-night doubleheader. Roster moves: UT Paul Witt released.
Likewise they pulled the plug on last night’s game between Wilmington and Hudson Valley late yesterday afternoon. A doubleheader has been scheduled for today at 4pm. Roster moves: OF Roismar Quintana released; RHPs Eriq Swan, Josh Randall, and Sean Paul Liñan assigned from Washington.
Fredericksburg 5 Columbia 2
• Sullivan 4IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 2K
• Dowdell (W, 1-0) 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K, 2-0 IR-S
• Green 1-5, 2B, 3RBI, OF assist @ 2B
• Cox 1-2, R, BB, RBI
• R. Diaz 1-4, 3B
The FredNats were just 2-for-12 with RISP but got four RBI from those two hit in a 5-2 win over the Fireflies. Liam Sullivan got 12 outs on 50 pitches with two hits, one walk, and two whiffs. The win went to Kevin Dowdell, who bailed out Ryan Minckler in the 5th and pitched a scoreless 6th to get the win. Brenner Cox got the party started with an RBI double in the 3rd while Elijah Green cleared the bases with a one-out double in the 5th. Kevin Bazell scored the final run on a wild pitch. Euri Montero lost the shutout with two runs allowed in the bottom of the 9th. Roster moves: RHP R.J. Sales assigned from Washington; .
DSL Nationals 7 DSL Arizona Black 5
• J. Robles 4IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 2K
• M. Ruiz (W, 2-1) 2IP, 2H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 2K, HBP
• Cortesia 2-2, 2BB, R, RBI, 4SB(18), CS(10)
• Vargas 1-3, R, BB, RBI
• German 0-2, 3BB
DSL Nationals scored in each of their first four “ups” to take a 5-0 lead then added two in the 7th to take a 7-2 lead that the bullpen didn’t blow for a 7-5 win over DSL Arizona Black. Jean Robles went the first four and allowed one hit and two walks while striking out two. Manuel Ruiz was credited with the win with two runs (one earned) on two hits, no walks, and two whiffs. Brayan Cortesia reached base four times on two singles and two walks and went 4-for-5 stealing bases. The D-Nats were just 1-for-10 with RISP and left on six runners. The one hit was two-run double in the 7th.
A collective applause to the PD staff , good karma and patience in the players fortitude
Lane Thomas and Alex Call both rose like phoenixs
Resulting in good flips .
The senators barring injuries should have a deep rotation. 2026
This is for Eriq Swan . Welcome to Nats
Hummmm, baby ! ( Roger Craig )
Hummmm , baby ,Oh Susana !
Imagine being the opponent knowing Oh Susana and Swan are lined up in the same night ?
Hummmm, baby !!
103 mph !!
Restocking the farm system is a fine goal. I do marvel at the consistent position that the Nationals cannot (a) develop pitchers; or (b) keep them healthy. On the first, while the Nationals have not produced a TOR starter yet, they’ve had a number of success stories from within (Irvin, Parker; Henry) and picked up pitchers from other organizations and made them into MLB contributors (Herz; Harvey; Finnegan; Garcia). I’m not saying that they are cutting edge, but they’re not (no longer?) terrible. I absolutely agree that more work needs to be done though.
As for pitcher’s health, there’s a reason for the adage TINSTAAP. Pitchers have always been fragile, and with the every-increasing focus on velo and spin that problem has intensified in the past 20 years. It’s not a Nationals problem, it’s an MLB problem that shows no signs of going away.
Tinstar tinstaap
These arms added at deadline keep the questions at bay on how the NCAA arms like Moore and Maddox seem to be for 2026 liftoff or helicoptered by
Nats pitching program limitations ( snarkle, Luke ).
If Delino Sr returns as Sens skipper in 26 his pitching staff could really be ( hummm , baby !)
Will JDL and Donte Williams return to burgs active roster before the McRib returns to McDees menu ?
Quirky stat alert: Andrew Pinckney recorded only his sixth double against 15 homers. He had four of the six doubles in July, and six of the homers.
Hmmmm
Just seven starters on the system wide 60 day DL from big club to short season
Delino Sr deserved better fate with all the injuries which always comes in a long season