Washington Nationals News

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Cade Cavalli • SP • Nationals

Cade Cavalli Scratched From Friday's Start Due to Illness

Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli (illness) has been scratched from his start on Friday in the series opener against the Kansas City Royals due to an illness, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. In Cavalli's place, the Nats will use left-hander PJ Poulin as an opener. We do not know as of right now whether Cavalli will be able to make his next start this weekend against the Royals or if he'll be skipped entirely in Washington's starting rotation. The 27-year-old former 22nd overall pick in 2020 out of the University of Oklahoma has emerged as a waiver-wire target in his third year in the big leagues in 2026, going 4-4 with a 3.98 ERA (3.41 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 81 strikeouts and 25 walks in 74 2/3 innings pitched across his 15 starts for the Nats. Cavalli has allowed over three earned runs in just two of his 15 starts this year and has boosted his strikeout rate to 24.3% after sporting a well below-average strikeout rate of 18.3% in 2025.

5 hours ago

Dylan Crews • RF • Nationals

Is Dylan Crews a Post-Hype Sleeper to Target on the Waiver Wire?

Across 100 plate appearances since being recalled from Triple-A in mid-May, Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews has struggled to a .189/.230/.337 slash line with four home runs, 14 RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases. However, the 24-year-old has begun to play a bit better of late, as he's logged a hit in six out of his last seven games. A former top prospect, Crews has had difficulty getting his MLB career off the ground to this point, owning a .622 OPS across 554 big-league plate appearances. He posted solid numbers but was not dominant in his time at Triple-A in 2026, hitting .258 with five home runs, seven stolen bases, and a 24.9% strikeout rate across 177 plate appearances. Still, Crews logged a 13.4% barrel rate and 50.9% hard-hit rate in the minors. Those marks have dropped to 9.1% and 42.9% in the Majors this season, but they still suggest that he's due for better results than what he's gotten so far. Fantasy managers may want to look at Crews on the waiver wire ahead of a possible breakout at the plate.

Yesterday

Clayton Beeter • RP • Nationals

Clayton Beeter Can be a Top Closer Addition Off the Waiver Wire

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Clayton Beeter hit a few bumps in the road early in June, but he seems to have regained his footing and remains the top closer option for the Nationals. Beeter gave up two runs in back-to-back appearances to start the month, but he has bounced back with three scoreless innings in his last three games. He hasn't allowed a hit in those outings and has racked up five strikeouts while walking just one. Gus Varland did get the team's most recent save on Tuesday, but Beeter had pitched back-to-back days in non-save situations coming into that contest. After getting two days off, he is positioned well for potential closing opportunities this weekend in Tampa Bay and can be a solid option if you're shopping for saves on the waiver wire.

Yesterday

Cade Cavalli • SP • Nationals

Cade Cavalli Emerging as Sneaky Waiver Target Amid Improving Command

Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Cade Cavalli is building a stronger waiver-wire case behind his improving strikeout production and command. Across 74 2/3 innings, the 27-year-old owns a 4-4 record, 3.98 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 81 strikeouts. The season-long WHIP remains a concern, but Cavalli has been steadier over his last seven starts, posting a 3.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts over 40 innings. Cavalli's walk rate keeps him from being a completely safe ratio play, and he has not worked beyond five innings in any of his last three outings. However, over these last seven starts, Cavalli has walked just eight hitters (1.8 BB/9), compared to the much higher 4.4 BB/9 he posted over his first 34 2/3 innings, suggesting he is taking major strides forward. With his Yahoo roster rate at 33%, Cavalli remains widely available to managers looking for a pitcher trending in the right direction and possesses solid strikeout upside.

2 days ago

Abimelec Ortiz • 1B • Nationals

Abimelec Ortiz Still on the Stash Radar Amid Triple-A Slump?

Washington Nationals first base prospect Abimelec Ortiz has flashed high-end talent at the Triple-A level throughout his minor league career, but has hit a bit of a cold streak at the dish. Over his last 10 contests with Rochester, Ortiz has posted a modest .205/.279/.359 line with a low .638 OPS. During this stretch, he has hit just one home run. However, prior to this brief skid, Ortiz carried a much higher .266/.368/.532 line with an .899 OPS, 12 doubles, and an impressive 10 long balls. Last summer, Ortiz spent most of his time with Double-A but did earn a brief taste of Triple-A in the second half, where he posted a high .953 OPS over a 41-game stint. While this slump has slightly limited his short-term stash upside, Ortiz remains in play to compete for an MLB debut in the coming weeks. Managers in deep leagues should monitor his status as he could re-emerge as a top stash candidate once he turns the corner.

2 days ago

Gus Varland • RP • Nationals

Nationals Turn to Gus Varland to Earn Tuesday's Save, Is he the Primary Closer?

Washington Nationals right-hander Gus Varland picked up his sixth save of the season on Tuesday, working around a solo home run to secure a win over the Royals while striking out one batter. Varland now leads the Nationals in saves and has taken a step in the right direction after a rough stretch recently. His 33.5 percent chase rate ranks in the 80th percentile and highlights the quality of his arsenal in high-leverage situations. The 29-year-old owns a 5.20 ERA and 1.66 WHIP, but he has continued to receive opportunities in the ninth inning. If Varland can string together a few more effective outings, he could solidify his grip on the closer role and become a more relevant fantasy option moving forward.

2 days ago

DJ Herz • SP • Nationals

DJ Herz a Sneaky Stash Target Ahead of Rehab Assignment?

Washington Nationals left-hander DJ Herz (elbow) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday with the Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals, according to Milb Central. Herz is close to making his return to the Nationals after having Tommy John surgery last year. Through his first two rehab starts in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, the 25-year-old southpaw has looked strong, throwing five scoreless innings with no walks and eight strikeouts. The Nationals aren't going to rush Herz back to the big leagues, though, so he could still require a handful of rehab starts before they consider reinstating him from the 60-day injured list. The former eighth-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in 2019 made his major-league debut with Washington in 2024 and went 4-9 with a 4.16 ERA (3.71 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP with 106 strikeouts and 36 walks in 88 2/3 frames across his 19 starts. Herz was more of a fly-ball pitcher, but his 29.3% whiff rate and 27.7% strikeout rate make him an interesting long-term starting option for those in deeper fantasy leagues. In those same formats, managers may want to consider stashing Herz now. He's available in all Yahoo leagues right now.

3 days ago

Curtis Mead • 1B • Nationals

Curtis Mead Can be a Strong Infield Addition Off the Waiver Wire

Washington Nationals first baseman/third baseman Curtis Mead has become a regular part of his team's batting order, usually hitting third in the young lineup and providing nice run-production potential. Mead has swatted six homers in his last 20 games while going 18-for-73 (.247) with two doubles, 12 runs scored, and 15 RBI over that span. He has a 14% barrel rate to go with his 42.1% hard-hit rate, so there isn't anything flukey about his production. The 25-year-old righty has solid splits and has been very solid this season, cutting down his K% from 23.9% last year to 17.2% this year and increasing his BB% from 5.7% to 12.3%. His improved plate discipline has definitely helped his power production, and he can be a solid pickup in almost all formats if you need corner infield help.

3 days ago

Orlando Ribalta • RP • Nationals

Is Orlando Ribalta Emerging as a Name to Know for the Nationals?

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Orlando Ribalta has been very effective as a setup man for the Nationals this season and could be a key name to watch if Clayton Beeter stumbles as closer. Ribalta has posted an impressive 1.80 ERA with a 3.40 FIP in his 20 appearances this season, earning two saves and four holds over 20 innings. He only has 14 strikeouts, so he isn't an elite strikeout producer, but he has limited his walks and only allowed a .171 batting average against him. Ribalta isn't a must-add until his role changes in standard-sized leagues, but he's definitely pitching effectively enough to watch closely. In shallower leagues where bullpen arms are stretched thin, he could be a nice speculative pickup from the waiver wire if you're trying to get ahead of the ever-shifting bullpen roles in Washington.

3 days ago

Robert Cranz • SP • Nationals

Nationals Prospect Robert Cranz Moving to Triple-A, Approaching Stash Territory?

The Washington Nationals are promoting right-handed pitching prospect Robert Cranz to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, according to Chase Ford of Milb Central. The 23-year-old former seventh-round pick in the 2024 MLB draft out of Oklahoma State University will move up to the highest level of the minors after combining to go 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 50:15 K:BB, and four saves in 29 2/3 innings pitched in 22 relief appearances between High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg. Cranz is currently unranked as one of the Nationals' top prospects, but if he keeps pitching like he has so far in 2026, he should sneak into the team's top-30 rankings at MLB Pipeline. He has worked almost exclusively in high-leverage situations out of the bullpen on the farm, displaying plenty of swing-and-miss stuff. Cranz could continue to be a fast riser in the Nationals' system, but it remains to be seen if he's a realistic candidate to debut in the big leagues in 2026. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues looking for improvements from their relief corps will want to keep a close eye on Cranz.

4 days ago

Yohandy Morales • 3B • Nationals

Yohandy Morales Not Slowing Down at Triple-A, On the Verge of Joining MLB Roster?

Washington Nationals first base/third base prospect Yohandy Morales has not slowed down at Triple-A this season and has put himself in a great position to debut before the end of June. Over his last 11 contests with Triple-A Rochester, Morales has carried an impressive .304/.373/.652 line with a 1.025 OPS. During this 11-game stretch, Morales has hit five home runs while carrying an 11:5 K:BB. Overall, the team's No. 28-ranked prospect (per MLB.com) has looked quite comfortable at the Triple-A level this season, carrying a .336/.411/.587 line with 11 doubles, 15 home runs, and a 61:26 K:BB across 60 games. Seeing him take a massive step forward, based on the modest .731 OPS he held at Triple-A last summer, is an excellent sign. While Curtis Mead's emergence has halted a debut, Morales' current production should put him in the mix to reach D.C. in the coming weeks.

4 days ago

Yohandy Morales • 3B • Nationals

Is Yohandy Morales Hitting His Way to Must-Stash Status?

Washington Nationals corner infield prospect Yohandy Morales continues to produce at Triple-A Rochester, drawing a walk, stealing a base, and scoring a run in his latest contest despite going 0-for-3 at the plate. For the season, the Nats' 28th-ranked prospect is slashing a robust .336/.414/.584 with 14 home runs and three steals. The former second-round draft pick is set to blow past his home run total from last season (15), and has seen almost a six percent drop in strikeout rate year-over-year while maintaining a solid 10.7 percent walk rate. The 6-foot-3 slugger owns a 92.3 percent average exit velocity (EV) this season (90th percentile) and a max EV of 113.1 mph (93rd percentile), along with a 12.4 percent barrel rate and 52.9 percent hard-hit rate, so he's got some fantasy-friendly power potential. However, despite having the ability to play either corner infield spot or designated hitter, there isn't a current path to playing time on the MLB roster, so it may take an injury to get him to the majors. Regardless, managers in deep leagues looking for a sneaky source of home runs and counting stats should consider stashing the 24-year-old ahead of an eventual call-up.

Jun 11

Foster Griffin • SP • Nationals

Foster Griffin a Waiver-Wire Target With Good Upcoming Matchup

Washington Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin had another solid outing on Wednesday at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants, although he did not factor into the decision. Griffin allowed just one earned run on six hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out five in six innings for a quality start. Since allowing 14 earned runs in 9 1/3 innings on May 14 and May 19 against the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets, the 30-year-old southpaw has steadied the ship by giving up only five earned runs on 16 hits (five homers) while walking three and striking out 20 in 22 innings over his last four starts. Griffin's strong start on Wednesday in the Bay Area dropped his season ERA to 3.46 (4.75 FIP) and his WHIP to 1.09 in his 14 starts. He has struck out 74 and walked 21 in 78 innings pitched. Griffin is due for some regression the rest of the way, but fantasy managers should consider picking him up off the waiver wire for his next scheduled outing against the Kansas City Royals, who rank 25th in baseball with a .693 OPS.

Jun 11

Clayton Beeter • RP • Nationals

Clayton Beeter Still the Reliever to Roster for Saves in Washington

Despite a recent rough patch, Washington Natinals right-handed reliever Clayton Beeter is the best source of saves in D.C. Beeter hasn't had the best start to June -- he's allowed four earned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out four in 3 2/3 innings in three outings -- but he entered the month with a 2.30 ERA, 15 strikeouts, 12 walks, a win, four saves, and two holds for the Nationals as their top option for the ninth inning. Overall, the 27-year-old former second-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 out of Texas Tech University has gone 2-1 with a 3.72 ERA (4.81 FIP), 1.29 WHIP, four saves, three holds, 19 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 19 1/3 innings pitched. Before the calendar flipped to June, Beeter had six straight scoreless appearances for the Nats to solidify his role as their closer. We're not saying that Beeter is a high-end closing option in fantasy, but for managers scrounging for saves, he's rostered in just 11% of Yahoo leagues.

Jun 11

Abimelec Ortiz • 1B • Nationals

Abimelec Ortiz Continues to Make Case to Join Nationals Amid Power Surge

Washington Nationals first base prospect Abimelec Ortiz continues to enjoy great success at the top level of the minor leagues and is making a strong case to join the Nationals later this month. Over his last 15 games at Triple-A Rochester, the slugging first baseman has carried an elite .333/.394/.794 line with a 1.188 OPS. During the impressive stretch, Ortiz has hit five doubles and gone deep eight times while carrying a 12:6 K:BB. Last summer, Ortiz split his time between Double-A and Triple-A in the Rangers system and enjoyed his best success at the top club, carrying a .283/.388/.565 line with a stellar .923 OPS. Given his current production at Triple-A, the 24-year-old remains on the path to debut in the coming weeks. Those looking for a high-upside power bat should consider stashing him in 12+ team leagues, as he would join one of the game's most potent offenses in D.C.

Jun 10

Jacob Young • CF • Nationals

Jacob Young Worth a Look Off the Waiver Wire in Deep Leagues?

Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young came into the 2026 season with just five home runs in his first three years in the league. He's only hitting .237 (49-for-207) in his first 66 contests this season, but he's already up to eight home runs in his 223 plate appearances. The 26-year-old former seventh-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Florida stole 33 bases in 2024 in his first full season in the majors, too, so he has some speed to spare, even if he has only swiped five bags in 2026. Fantasy managers in search of outfield depth in deeper leagues should consider adding Young while he's hot early in June. In eight games so far this month, Young has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with a homer, two triples, two RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base in 22 plate appearances. With plenty of wheels and a boost in power this year, Young has become more attractive in deep formats. He's currently rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available.

Jun 10

Gus Varland • RP • Nationals

Gus Varland Earns Fifth Save, Emerging as Name to Roster in Washington's Bullpen?

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Gus Varland secured his team's 4-3 win over the Giants on Monday night after Keaton Winn blew the save for San Francisco. After the Nats plated three runs in the top of the ninth, Varland had two strikeouts while allowing a single and a walk on his way to his fifth save of the year. The 29-year-old righty has a 4.01 ERA and 3.23 FIP in his 24 2/3 innings this season and is currently sharing time at the end of games with Clayton Beeter, who earned the win on Tuesday despite giving up two runs before Varland entered. Varland seems to be the slightly better option of the two relievers at this point in the Nationals' bullpen, although both relievers have been shaky this season for fantasy production.

Jun 9

Cade Cavalli • SP • Nationals

Cade Cavalli a Top Waiver-Wire Target Ahead of Potential Breakout Season

Across 69 2/3 innings (14 starts) so far in 2026, Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli has recorded a 3-4 record with a 3.88 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts. The 27-year-old ran into some trouble in his most recent outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing four earned runs across five innings of work. However, Cavalli was riding a heater heading into the Arizona start, allowing just eight earned runs while recording 30 strikeouts across his previous 24 1/3 innings (four starts). While Cavalli's elevated WHIP is an issue for fantasy managers, his 8% walk rate is manageable. Cavalli's WHIP is more of a function of opposing batters hitting .355 on balls in play against him, which is likely to regress over a larger sample size. The hard-throwing right-hander's 3.36 FIP and 16.3% K-BB rate both point to the possibility of a breakout season for Cavalli in 2026.

Jun 8

Dylan Crews • RF • Nationals

Dylan Crews Still Worth a Pickup Amid Slump?

Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews has not enjoyed much success in his return to the majors, but the upside still keeps him on the waiver-wire radar. Crews is hitting .197 through 16 games since returning to Washington, though he showed signs of life Saturday, June 6, against the Arizona Diamondbacks by going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Crews' waiver appeal is more about upside than immediate production. The surface numbers remain light, but his 91.3 mph average exit velocity and improved strikeout profile in comparison to his 2025 rate give fantasy managers a reason to stay interested before the results fully show up. The former second-overall pick has also posted a 46.9% hard-hit rate, which is well above the average marks. Crews is best viewed as an upside waiver-wire target for managers who can afford to wait on the former top prospect as he finds his footing.

Jun 8

Abimelec Ortiz • 1B • Nationals

Abimelec Ortiz a Must-Stash Prospect for Home Run Upside

Washington Nationals first base prospect Abimelec Ortiz has emerged as a top waiver wire prospect as he continues to post impressive results in Triple-A. Through 49 games in the minors this year, Ortiz is slashing .263/.361/.514 with 10 home runs, 48 RBI, an 18.3% strikeout rate, and a 10.6% walk rate. The contact quality metrics are fantastic, including his 108.2 mph EV90 (96th percentile), 14.3% barrel rate (91st percentile), 48.6% hard-hit rate (84th percentile), and 24.6% pull-air rate (84th percentile). Meanwhile, his discipline numbers rank near average for Triple-A batters, which isn't too concerning for a power-oriented player like Ortiz. The fact that he's hitting the ball extremely hard while still walking more than 10% and striking out less than 20% is absolutely encouraging. He already has 90 career Triple-A games under his belt, so we'd expect to see him make his MLB debut sooner rather than later. Managers should stash him now, because he'll be an impact fantasy option when he does reach the majors.

Jun 8

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