Jackson Kent to start on Wednesday vs. Cubs

Kent gave up three hits, walked five and struck out six. The five walks were uncharacteristic for Kent, who had walked only 30 batters in 94 1/3 minor league innings this year. That’s something he’ll need to clean up as the Cubs were able to get him out of the game after throwing 78 pitches in four innings. The six strikeouts show Kent could have some promise, though he’s still too risky a proposition for fantasy managers at this point. Kent is lined up to face the Rangers on the road next week.

Kent is getting the nod to make his MLB debut against the Cubs on Wednesday. The left-hander has pitched solidly — if unspectacular — in 2026 with a 3.72 ERA and 105/30 K/BB over 94 1/3 innings. It would be a very risky proposition to trust him as a fantasy option in this one, but he’s worth keeping an eye on.

The Nats added Mikolas on a one-year, $2.25 million deal back in February, something which made sense given the state of their rotation, but he’s posted a rough 5.82 ERA over 11 starts and 14 relief appearances this season. As he turns 38 later this month, it’s fair to wonder if he’s thrown his final pitch in the majors. The Nationals are calling up Jackson Kent to make his MLB debut on Wednesday against the Cubs.

The 23-year-old has posted a 3.72 ERA in 94 1/3 innings across Double-A and Triple-A this season. Kent has a four-pitch mix and added velocity this season, which led to a big boost in strikeouts in Double-A. In 63 2/3 innings at Triple-A, he posted a respectable 25 percent strikeout rate. He remains more of a pitchability-over-stuff prospect, so it remains to be seen how his arsenal will translate to the MLB level.

The 37-year-old hurler walked one and struck out one batter in the ballgame. The Phillies got to him early and often in this one, striking for two runs in the first, one in the second and three more in the third — all without the benefit of a home run. Mikolas finished his day with a pair of scoreless frames, but the damage had already been done at that point. He got just four whiffs on 93 offerings in the game, posting an underwhelming CSW of 23 percent. Now 3-9 on the season, he’ll carry a miserable 5.89 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 56/23 K/BB ratio (113 innings) into Wednesday’s battle against the Cubs.

Mikolas gave up nine hits, walked one and struck out three. He fell to 3-8 with the loss. Mikolas allowed four runs in the first four innings before finishing his outing by putting up zeroes in the fifth and sixth inning. The 37-year-old right-hander allowed three home runs to the Braves and has now allowed 26 home runs this season. Only Jeffrey Springs has allowed more home runs (28). Sporting a 5.67 ERA, Mikolas is off the fantasy radar for his next start against the Phillies on the road next Thursday.

Mikolas struck out two and walked one as the Nats went on to win 10-7. The right-hander has a 5.65 ERA this season and is well off the fantasy radar. He draws the Braves in Atlanta next time out.

Carson Palmquist opened for the Nationals and tossed a scoreless first inning before giving up four in the second. He was chased with two outs in the inning at 36 pitches. Mikes Mikolas took over and recorded the final out, then gave up a run in the third on a double and two groundouts. Two hits in the fifth and a solo homer in the sixth brought two more runs in for Colorado before Mikolas departed with one out in the sixth inning. He struck out one. The 37-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 5.60 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and a 51/20 K/BB ratio across 98 innings. His next outing is scheduled for Monday at home against the Blue Jays.

Mikolas will be pitching for the first time since serving his five-game suspension for fighting Boston’s Nate Eaton.

Mikolas’s suspension for his tussle with Nate Eaton in the June 30 game against the Red Sox didn’t get reduced, but it hardly matters. He pitched four innings today, so he obviously wasn’t going to pitch Sunday, and the Nationals will be fine going without him in the first four games after the break.