The rollercoaster that has been the 2026 Washington Nationals is one that has been defined by the pitching staff. Consistency has been incredibly hard to come by, and the highest highs have been paralleled by lows that often sit among the league’s worst.
Finding any sort of reliable pitching has been a year-long struggle, and one that has only been made more difficult by the recent trade of left-hander Foster Griffin, who was far and away the anchor of the rotation. Cade Cavalli has maintained an upward
trajectory, pitching to a 3.57 ERA across a career-high 128.2 innings, but the revolving door of arms after that has seen concerningly low stability.
The search for reliable starters has led to the coaching staff and front office exhausting every possible avenue within the system, and that venture may have struck gold in southpaw Andrew Alvarez. The 27-year-old came into 2026 with just 23.1 career innings (all in 2o25) and began the season with AAA Rochester. His promotion to the big-league club came in mid-April, where he was utilized as a bulk reliever through the end of May.
Alvarez earned regular time as a starter to kick off June, and he’s gone out there every 5th day and shown that he deserves to stay there long-term. Despite his successes, questions have remained about his ability to work deeper into games and not just be a 4/5-and-dive type of arm. After working into the 6th inning just one time before the calendar flipped to August, he’s kicked things to a new level, right when the Nats need him the most.
With a playoff run still possible but time slowly ticking down, Alvarez has dazzled through 2 starts this month, throwing 6.1 innings of 2-run ball against the Philadelphia Phillies and 5.1 innings of 1-run ball against the Cincinnati Reds. His ERA has dropped down to a 3.76 mark across a modest 69.1 innings, and he’s right there behind Cavalli in terms of confidence from the fanbase and coaching staff.
The former 12th round draft pick in 2021 has been an absolute revelation for a Washington team that is pushing for a postseason berth, something that most fans and analysts thought impossible just a few months ago. He’s attacking hitters instead of exclusively attempting to paint corners, he’s flashing some of the most efficient arsenals that the Nats have seen this year, and he hasn’t allowed a home run in his last 51.2 innings, a remarkable feat and one that currently ranks 8th all-time in Nationals’ history.
His changeup and slider have fabulously complemented his low-90s fastball and have looked deadly when he can locate the heater in the zone. He’s getting it done without relying on top-of-the-line velocity, a fantastic sign for his overall development and ability to carry this success moving forward.
Sitting 4.5 games back of the 3rd Wild Card spot as of the morning of August 9th, it’s going to take some big-time performances for the Nats to make an appearance in October. They’re going to have to place even more weight on Alvarez’s shoulder in the coming month and a half, and the southpaw has proven that he’s up for the challenge.
