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    Mitchell Parker likely needs Tommy John surgery

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    WSH Relief Pitcher #70
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    Mitchell Parker has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 UCL sprain and will likely require season-ending Tommy John surgery, according to Nationals manager Blake Butera.

    It’s pretty much a worst-case scenario outcome for Parker after hitting the shelf with elbow inflammation earlier this week. The 26-year-old lefty has posted a lackluster 6.58 ERA across 39 2/3 innings out of the Nationals bullpen this season.
Passan: Lockout and 2027 season both 'inevitable'
Jeff Passan joins John Fanta and Jay Croucher on Fanta in 60 to talk why he believes there will be an MLB season in 2027, who he's taking in Game 6 of the ALCS, the Yankees and more.

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  • WSH Relief Pitcher #70
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    The expectation had been that Parker would undergo the traditional Tommy John reconstructive elbow procedure, so the fact that he had the internal brace procedure instead should at least shave a bit of time off of his recovery. He’s still expected to miss the majority of the 2027 campaign while recovering.
  • WSH Relief Pitcher #70
    It’s merely a procedural move with Parker likely to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery after being diagnosed with a significant UCL sprain earlier this week.
  • WSH Relief Pitcher #70
    No word yet on the severity of Parker’s injury or whether surgery is on the table. The 26-year-old has a 6.58 ERA in 39 2/3 innings for the Nationals out of the bullpen this eason.
  • WSH Relief Pitcher #70
    Parker came in with the score 6-1 and worked scoreless seventh and eighth innings. A shaky ninth followed, but he was left in after three of the first four batters reached, and he retired José Ramírez and Chase DeLauter to end the game. It’s the second career save for Parker. The other was also of the three-inning variety after he was removed from the Nationals rotation late last season. He has a 5.33 ERA over 27 innings in his 12 relief appearances this year.
  • WSH Starting Pitcher #36
    Mikolas might have a shot at 20 losses this year, but it involves him pitching considerably better than this. He has an 11.49 ERA and an 11/9 K/BB over 15 2/3 innings after four outings. The Nationals aren’t expecting much other than innings from him, but since he’s not even providing many of those, he might find himself out of work before long. Mitchell Parker, who got the win tonight after striking out five in two scoreless innings, would be one possibility to replace him. Mikolas is scheduled to pitch again Sunday versus the Giants.
  • WSH Starting Pitcher #70
    He’ll replace Jackson Rutledge after Rutledge was optioned to Triple-A by Washington on Monday. The Nationals don’t have an off day until April 27th, so having Parker up could enable them to use him as a spot starter or perhaps provide length out of their bullpen over these 13 days. In three Triple-A starts this season, Parker has allowed nine runs on 17 hits in 13 1/3 innings while striking out 16 and walking just three.
  • WSH Starting Pitcher #70
    Parker has been a fixture in the Nationals’ rotation over the last two seasons, making 29 starts in 2024 and 30 starts (33 appearances) in 2025. However, he posted just a 5.68 ERA and 103/.58 K/BB ratio in 164 2/3 innings last season, and has not won a spot in the rotation this year. With Parker beginning the year in Triple-A, Foster Griffin and Jake Irvin will likely claim the final two spots in the Nationals’ rotation.
  • WSH Pitcher #70
    What’s fascinating is that Parker got himself into trouble without allowing a hit, instead issuing four free passes while striking out a pair. The damage done against him came on a two-run double by Taylor Trammell in the fourth inning after Parker had issued a pair of walks and turned the ball over to the bullpen. He threw just 19 of his 43 pitches for strikes in the game. This isn’t going to help Parker’s cause in battling for one of the final spots in the Nationals’ rotation.
  • WSH Pitcher #70
    The Marlins failed to muster any hard contact against Parker, who is having to battle for a rotation spot after posting a 5.68 ERA and a poor 14.2 percent strikeout rate as a sophomore. The addition of Miles Mikolas to near-certainties Cade Cavalli and Brad Lord has left the Nationals with Josiah Gray, Foster Griffin, Jake Irvin and Parker battling for two rotation spots, and the assumption is that Gray will have one if he gets through camp healthy. All but Mikolas do have options, though.
  • WSH Starting Pitcher #70
    Jose A. Ferrer was unavailable after throwing 43 pitches on Saturday, so the Nats just stuck with Parker in his first relief appearance after 59 major league starts. Incredibly, it’s the Nationals’ first three-inning save since the move to D.C. The franchise’s last came in 1999, when Anthony Telford had one for the Expos. Parker, who was pulled from the rotation with his ERA climbing to 5.85 last weekend, allowed just two hits, He nearly gave up a game-tying homer, or at least a double, to Francisco Alvarez to start the ninth, but Jacob Young made an outstanding jumping catch at the wall, and the Mets went quietly from there.

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    Yankees SS prospect Dax Kilby went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a triple, and two steals in Arizona Fall League action on Monday.

    The 19-year-old had an inconsistent first full professional season, hitting .242/.427/.403 in 36 games with four home runs and 12 steals. However, he also had a 35/40 K/BB ratio and showed elite plate discipline. Kilby is hitting .290 with a .964 OPS in Arizona Fall League action and now has four steals. He should begin next season in Single-A, and it remains to be seen what his long-term positional fit is with George Lombard Jr. now up with the Yankees at shortstop.
  • SF Relief Pitcher #73
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    Randy Rodríguez (elbow) threw a scoreless inning in the Arizona Fall League on Monday.

    Rodríguez allowed one hit but struck out two in his inning of work. Perhaps more importantly, he sat 96.5 mph, which was up from 95 mph in his first outing, and he touched 98 mph on the radar gun. The 27-year-old has yet to allow a run in his AFL action and could be the favorite for saves in San Francisco heading into the 2027 season.
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    Cardinals OF prospect Tai Peete went 4-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, a triple, an RBI, two runs scored, and two steals in Arizona Fall League action on Monday night.

    Peete was everywhere in this one. The 21-year-old now has six steals, three doubles, and two triples in AFL action, while hitting .361 with a 1.091 OPS. Peete, who came over in an offseason trade for Brendan Donovan, missed over two months this season with an illness, but finished the year strong at Double-A. He figures to start there again in 2027, but a hot start, paired with his strong AFL results, could lead to a Triple-A promotion in short order.
  • CLE Left Fielder #38
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    Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan could be back on the trade block this offseason, according to Robert Murray.

    Murray reported that many teams expressed interest in acquiring Kwan at this year’s trade deadline, but the Guardians saw a chance to make a playoff run and opted to hold onto their outfielder. Now, with Kwan entering the final year of his deal and the Guardians unlikely to sign him to an extension, the market for him is likely to heat up again. Kwan had a down year in 2026, hitting .282/.382/.349 with three home runs and 32 RBI; however, he was sixth in baseball in WAR from June 30 to the end of the regular season, and some teams may see that as a sign that he is due for a bounce-back in 2027.
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    Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer as the Rays beat the Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the ALCS on Monday.

    The Rays advance to their third-ever trip to the World Series with the win. Caminero took Cade Smith deep off the pole with a runner on, and it gave the 23-year-old slugger his first homer of the postseason after he walloped 42 of them in the regular campaign. He seemed to enjoy it, as it took him nearly 40 seconds to round the bases. Let the kids play. The 23-year-old also singled and walked to improve his playoff OPS to .814 over his nine postseason games. Caminero and the Rays will begin the Fall Classic against the Brewers on Friday, and both organizations will have a chance to win their first-ever championship.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • TB Designated Hitter #2
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    Yandy Díaz hit a two-run homer to help the Rays to a Game 6 win over the Guardians on Monday in the ALCS.

    For the second time in three games, Díaz hit a late two-run shot to extend the Rays’ lead to four runs. The 35-year-old has been outstanding in the postseason with a .308 average and .903 OPS, and he’ll hit at the top of the lineup for the World Series against the Brewers beginning Friday.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • CLE Relief Pitcher #36
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    Cade Smith allowed two runs in the seventh inning in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Rays on Monday.

    Smith walked the first hitter he faced and then gave up a line-drive homer to Junior Caminero that extended the Rays’ lead to 5-1. It’s a disappointing end to what was a spectacular season for Smith who had dominated in the playoffs prior to his outing on Monday, and he saved 41 games with a 1.95 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 74 innings. He’ll open 2027 as one of the best fantasy closers in baseball.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • TB Relief Pitcher #47
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    Bryan Baker didn’t allow a run in the ninth inning against the Guardians on Monday in the ALCS.

    It’s a non-save situation because Yandy Díaz hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to give Tampa Bay a four-run lead. The 31-year-old initiated a pair of groundouts to the top of the Cleveland lineup before getting Chase DeLauter to pop out to end the game. Baker will assuredly get the save chances — and plenty of other high-leverage looks — in the World Series beginning Friday.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • TB Starting Pitcher #51
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    Freddy Peralta allowed just one run over 5 1/3 innings to pick up a win over the Guardians in Game 6 of the ALCS on Monday.

    Peralta will be facing his former team in the Fall Classic, and is a big reason why Tampa Bay was able to advance. He didn’t allow a run until the sixth, and he scattered five hits while striking out three in the series-clinching victory. In his two starts against the Guardians in the ALCS, Peralta allowed just one run over 11 1/3 innings. Game 1 of the World Series is Friday, and it seems likely the 30-year-old will start one of those first two games for the Rays in Milwaukee.
    - Christopher Crawford
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    The Mets will interview Kevin Long for a coaching job Tuesday.

    Long was the Mets’ hitting coach from 2015-17 and also worked with Juan Soto in D.C. before spending the last five years as the Phillies’ hitting coach. The Mets already have a hitting coach in Troy Snitker and an assistant in Rafael Fernandez, but they’d figure something out if Long is interested.