Foster Griffin, the guy who spent three years pitching in Japan, has come back to MLB and completely flipped the script for the Washington Nationals. This dude is sporting a ridiculous 2.68 ERA across 20 starts and 117 ⅓ innings, putting him in the top 15 in all of baseball. It’s a comeback story that nobody saw coming, and it’s making things incredibly complicated for the Nats as the trade deadline looms.
Griffin’s Unbelievable Turnaround Has the League Buzzing
We’re talking about a pitcher who was the No. 28 pick back in the 2014 draft but then bounced to Japan from 2023-25. Now, he’s back on a low-cost, one-year deal with Washington and just got selected to the All-Star Game last week. The craziest part? Griffin just set a Nationals record, allowing no more than one earned run in eight consecutive starts. That’s right, EIGHT straight starts where hitters barely touched him! He’s gone at least six innings in six of those eight, and seven innings in four of the last five. That kind of consistency is unheard of, matching a streak from none other than Pedro Martinez back in ’96. His 3.97 FIP and 3.89 expected ERA are solid, but that 2.68 ERA is what’s truly popping off the page, especially for a guy signed for just $5.5 million. He’s even beating out names like Dylan Cease and Michael Soroka in WAR among pitchers who changed teams this offseason.
The Nationals Are Suddenly Playing Meaningful Baseball
This isn’t just a Griffin story; it’s a Nationals story. At 52-51, they’re over .500 this late in the season for the first time since their 2019 World Series run. After five straight 90-loss seasons, this is a massive step forward. Rookie manager Blake Butera put it perfectly, saying, “Everyone in the clubhouse knows the standings… People are talking about playoffs, trade deadline, buyers, sellers, all those different types of things.” And he’s right! CJ Abrams and James Wood are looking like certified stars, Cade Cavalli and Luis García Jr. are breaking out, and Curtis Mead has been a sneaky good pickup. There’s real fun happening in that clubhouse, and Foster Griffin is a huge part of why.
So, what’s next? The trade deadline is coming in the next ten days, and the Nationals have a massive decision to make. Do you keep Griffin, a 31-year-old on an absolute heater, to build on this unexpected momentum? Or do you cash in on his incredible value right now? Griffin himself is “super grateful” and “super proud” of his journey. Whatever happens, everyone’s watching to see if this incredible story continues in Washington or if Griffin becomes the biggest rental on the market.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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