The Washington Nationals non-tendered right-handers Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey on Friday, making them both free agents. Finnegan will hit the open market after five seasons in D.C., with his last one being his best. He earned his first All-Star bid by going 3-8 with a 3.68 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and a career-high 38 saves in 63 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. The 33-year-old's 38 saves were third-most in baseball. Finnegan's strikeout rate the last two years wasn't representative of a closing arm, and it might be a stretch to expect him to land a closing gig in free agency. He should at least be a high-leverage option somewhere. Rainey had a 4.76 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 50 relief outings for the Nats in 2024 in his return from Tommy John surgery, but he was much better in the second half. The 31-year-old should be able to turn that into a bullpen with another team in 2025.
Washington Nationals right-hander Kyle Finnegan allowed two hits on two unearned runs while striking out one over 1 1/3 inning to earn the save in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Finnegan was called on in the eighth inning to protect a four-run lead. He allowed two inherited runs through a wild pitch and an RBI single to Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez. Finnegan bounced back and earned a four-save in Saturday's victory. The 32-year-old needed 18 pitches to notch his 29th save of the season. Before Saturday's appearance, Finnegan yielded six runs over his 1 1/3 innings. He owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 45:14 K: BB across 45 1/3 innings in 2024. Finnegan is Washington's primary closer, and fantasy managers should continue to roll with him in all leagues as he continues to rack up saves in 2024.
Washington Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan collected his 23rd save of the season with a clean ninth inning in Wednesday night's win over the division-rival New York Mets. Finnegan didn't record a strikeout, but he was able to coax Mets catcher Luis Torrens into a flyout to seal the Nats' 7-5 win over New York. The hard-throwing 32-year-old right-hander remains one of the top closers in fantasy baseball, posting a 1.98 ERA and 0.94 WHIP while striking out 39 hitters and walking 12 over 36 1/3 innings in 2024. Finnegan has now gone 23-for-26 on converting save opportunities.
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan has been a feel-good story through the first three months of the regular season. The right-hander was called upon to hold a one-run lead against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Finnegan allowed back-to-back singles to start the inning. He was able to battle back and recorded the next three outs and notch his 22nd save of the season. For now, Finnegan remains a solid source for saves. However, that could change if he's moved at the trade deadline and ends up a set-up man elsewhere.
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan was called upon to close down Sunday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. The right-hander gave up one hit but worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 16th save of the season. There's only three pitchers with more saves than Finnegan this season. He has done a nice job at closing out games for the Nats this season.
Kyle Finnegan Keeps The Good Times Rolling On Thursday
Washington Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan collected his 15th save of the season on Thursday, slamming the door on the Atlanta Braves to secure a 3-1 win. Finnegan allowed just a walk and struck out one in his inning of work. The 32-year-old has been excellent as the Nats closer this year, going 15-for-17 in save opportunities while pitching to a 1.64 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. He is now fifth in the majors in saves and should remain a solid relief pitcher option in fantasy leagues.
Washington Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan secured Tuesday's win on the road over the Chicago White Sox, tossing a scoreless ninth inning for his 13th save of the season during Game 1 of a doubleheader. After getting Eloy Jimenez to ground out, Finnegan ran into some trouble by allowing two singles to get the tying run to the plate but was able to stymie a potential rally by striking out Nicky Lopez to end the game. It's been a great first quarter of the year for the hard-throwing 32-year-old right-hander, who now sports a 1.56 ERA and 0.92 WHIP while fanning 17 and walking eight with an MLB-high 13 saves over 17 1/3 innings as Washington's clear-cut closer. Finnegan's been one of fantasy's top value picks to this point, but it might be time to sell high when you consider his .113 BA and .247 xBA, .268 SLG and .464 xSLG, as well as his 1.65 ERA and 4.41 xERA on Baseball Savant entering Tuesday's action.
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan closed out the Miami Marlins on Sunday in a 12-9 victory to pick up his ninth save of the season. In his inning of work, Finnegan didn't allow a hit or a run while walking one and striking out one to lower his season ERA to 2.19. Hunter Harvey pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in front of Finnegan with a walk and no strikeouts to earn his ninth hold of the year. It was the 32-year-old Finnegan's ninth save in 10 chances to start the 2024 season. He also owns a 0.97 WHIP and has fanned 11 batters in his 12 1/3 innings. Finnegan opened the year as a shaky closing option for fantasy managers, but he's held off Harvey to this point with April almost over.
Washington Nationals right-hander Kyle Finnegan struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Oakland A's. Finnegan entered the ninth inning to protect a two-run lead. He needed only nine pitches to retire the side and earn his fifth save of the season. The 32-year-old is 5-for-6 in save chances with a 4.26 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, and six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings in 2024. Hunter Harvey was used in the eighth inning and has racked up five holds in 2024. Finnegan is Washington's primary closer, and his five saves are tied with St. Louis Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley for the National League lead.
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan threw a scoreless ninth inning to finish off the Philadelphia Phillies in a 3-2 win. Finnegan walked one and struck out one. The 32-year-old had a bad outing in Cincinnati on opening weekend but has recovered nicely, going two-for-two in save chances with no hits allowed since. It appears that the Nats are running with Finnegan as the full-time closer given their bullpen usage, making him a must-roster reliever in any league where saves count.
