Cavalli scratched from start with illness

Cavalli struck out seven batters on the night while issuing only one base on balls. All of the damage done against him came in his final inning of work on a two-run blast by Brandon Marsh. Cavalli then exited with a 5-2 advantage and in line for a victory, but the Nationals’ bullpen couldn’t hang on for him. He got 15 whiffs on 97 pitches in the ballgame, registering a CSW of 31 percent. He’ll bring a 4.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and an 89/29 K/BB ratio (83 1/3 innings) into Tuesday’s matchup against the Red Sox in Boston.

Cavalli loaded the bases with three straight hits in the first inning. One run would come in on a sacrifice fly before he escaped the jam with a ground ball double play. He then stranded the bases loaded in the second before giving up a run in the third. Cavalli’s day would be done early as he was pulled with two outs in the third inning at 68 pitches. He gave up six hits and three walks in all and struck out just one batter. The 27-year-old right-hander will take a 4.07 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and an 82/28 K/BB ratio across 77 1/3 innings into a home start against the Phillies on Thursday.

Poulin got the nod as the opener for Friday’s game after Cade Cavalli (illness) was scratched from his scheduled start. Poulin was effective in his limited outing, allowing just one hit over two scoreless innings while also striking out a batter. Poulin has made nine starts as an opener this season and has allowed just three earned runs over his last 14 innings pitched, dating back to May.

Cavalli got off to a good start, tossing four scoreless innings. The Mariners would get to him in the fifth, bringing three runs in on a hit batter, base hit, and two-run homer by Colt Emerson. Cavalli’s day would be done after five at 81 pitches. He struck out five. The 27-year-old right-hander will take a 3.98 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and an 81/25 K/BB ratio across 74 2/3 innings into a start against the Rays in Tampa Bay on Friday.

Poulin returns to Washington’s relief corps after spending a couple weeks in the minors. The 29-year-old southpaw has compiled a serviceable 3.28 ERA and 17/16 K/BB ratio across 24 2/3 innings for the Nationals this season.

Cavalli has been an above average starter to date because he’s kept the ball in the yard, but Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno today became the fourth and fifth batters to take him deep this year. Only a modest groundball pitcher (his GB rate is 46 percent right now), he’s due to have less luck in the home run department going forward, though also probably more luck in the BABIP department, considering that he’s at .355 there at the moment. He’s quite intriguing for the long haul and quite fringy for the rest of 2026.

Cavalli dealt with a ton of traffic on the basepaths in the opening two frames and looked like he was going to be in some serious trouble. He somehow managed to avoid any serious damage and allowed just one baserunner over his final three frames before departing after 89 pitches (58 strikes). He struck out six and issued three walks. The 27-year-old has allowed three earned runs or fewer, while completing at least five innings, in five consecutive starts since May 10. He’ll wrap up a two-start week with a road matchup against the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Poulin heads back to the minors after tossing a scoreless frame during Wednesday’s series finale against the Guardians. The 29-year-old southpaw holds a respectable 3.28 ERA and 17/16 K/BB ratio across 24 2/3 innings for the Nationals this season.

It was another efficient outing for Cavalli, who got 18 outs on 87 pitches. Last time out, he needed just 84 pitches over seven innings. Cavalli moved to 3-3 with a 3.62 ERA. It seems like he should have a better record with the way the Nationals have scored, but there were two times earlier in the season in which he wasn’t as efficient and was pulled with a lead before completing five innings. He also had the bullpen blow a lead for him once. Cavalli will make his next start against the Marlins, a team he limited to two runs over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision a couple of weeks ago.

The 29-year-old southpaw was just optioned out on Wednesday, but he’ll rejoin the Nationals with Jake Irvin (shoulder) hitting the injured list on Sunday. Poulin has done a nice job out of the Nats’ bullpen this season, posting a 2.91 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 16/14 K/BB ratio over 21 2/3 innings.