The Washington Nationals are finally seeing what they drafted way back in 2020, with right-hander Cade Cavalli absolutely dealing on the mound. After a long wait, the dude is delivering big time, and the numbers he’s putting up lately are just wild.
Back From the Brink, Dealing Ks Like Never Before
Seriously, go look at the stats. Over his last six starts, Cavalli has rolled to a 3-0 record with a rock-solid 2.43 ERA. He’s absolutely electric, racking up 45 strikeouts in just 33.1 innings. That’s more than 12 batters per nine innings getting sent back to the dugout shaking their heads. Since May 10, this guy has punched out an eye-popping 79 batters while only walking 15 across 70 innings.
Think about that. This isn’t just a good run; this is a pitcher who missed almost two full seasons after getting Tommy John surgery back in 2023. We’re talking about a full-on comeback, flashing the kind of stuff that made him a top prospect in the first place. You love to see it, right? To come back from that brutal injury and immediately start missing bats at this rate? It’s inspiring.
Coors Field History and a Career-High Night
His latest outing was another gem. Against the Colorado Rockies, Cavalli tossed six scoreless innings, giving up only four hits and two walks, all while striking out eight. And get this: Nationals pitchers traditionally hate Coors Field, but Cavalli handled it like a boss. His six scoreless innings made him only the third pitcher in the club’s history to pull that off in Colorado. The other two? Tony Armas way back in 2005 and Pedro Martinez in 1997. Talk about elite company!
Cavalli himself knew it was a big deal. He said, “Coming in, I knew that the shapes on pitches were going to be a little bit different because of the air. But we needed a big win today, and our defense played great. Bats came alive, as always, and I was just glad that I was able to keep us in the game.” That’s the kind of competitor you want out there.
And let’s not forget his absolute masterpiece against the Boston Red Sox on June 30. He went seven innings, notched a career-high 13 strikeouts, allowed just one hit, and sealed an 8-1 victory. That was a statement game, showing everyone his arsenal is back and better than ever.
With the trade deadline looming large, there’s always that nervous energy in the clubhouse. Players feel that insecurity, you know? This kind of performance from Cavalli, and a big win like that, has to provide some comfort. It puts the Nationals front office in a tough spot: can this team, with Cavalli pitching like this, actually make a run for the postseason?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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