Cade Cavalli exits with right calf discomfort

Cavalli was able to make the play to end the inning, but limped off the field and into the tunnel. It’s a tough break for fantasy managers as the 28-year-old right-hander was dealing — as he hadn’t allowed a hit and had struck out eight batters through four scoreless frames. He’ll presumably head for imaging to see if there’s any structural damage. Expect the Nationals to provide an update on his status as soon as more information is available.

Cavalli reeled off his ninth consecutive quality start since July 12. The 28-year-old former top prospect allowed solo homers to Willi Castro and Ezequiel Tovar, but managed to keep Colorado’s offense in check otherwise. He’s notched at least seven strikeouts in four straight starts since August 8. Simply put, he’s looked like an upper-echelon fantasy starter for a couple months and is going to be an extremely popular early-round pick in drafts next spring. He’ll close out a two-start week with a tasty matchup against the division-rival Marlins on Saturday.

Cavalli just keeps getting better. He set the tone by striking out four of the first five batters he faced and never looked back. His 11 punch-outs were the second-most in a start this season and the fifth time he’s reached double digits. A key to his in-season breakout, his improving sweeper was strong against right-handed batters with a nearly 70% strike rate while working as his primary pitch against them. Otherwise, the trio of that pitch, his fastball, and knuckle-curve stymied the Rangers’ lefties and combined to force 12 of his 14 swings-and-misses. He’s completed at least six innings in eight straight starts without allowing more than three runs in any and picked up six wins over that span. That looks something like a league-winner. Next up, he has a two-start week against the Rockies and Marlins, both at home.

Cavalli also walked two batters in the ballgame. He retired the first 15 batters he faced until Dansby Swanson worked him for a walk to open the sixth inning. Cavalli’s no-hit bid was then spoiled by a two-out single from Michael Busch in the seventh. The 27-year-old right-hander got 14 whiffs on 103 pitches on the afternoon, posting a strong CSW of 34 percent. He’ll carry an impressive 3.36 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 151/41 K/BB ratio (136 2/3 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Rangers in Arlington.

A classic good except for the dingers starter, and these were some loud homers: Eugenio Suárez’s homer was 422 feet over the bullpen, Matt McClain’s was 420 feet just to the left of the pen, and Elly De La Cruz went back-to-back on a wall scraper to the opposite field. But Cavalli was able to coax a double play ball from Sal Stewart in the fifth inning when he needed it and otherwise was able to stop the Reds from stringing together a sequence. When a team squares up this fastball, it flies, but the 40 percent whiff rate told the tale for Cavalli today. He’ll draw the Cubs next start.

Cavalli’s fourth straight quality start saw him settle for just three strikeouts, but it wasn’t an issue against the often-punchless Blue Jays. He finishes the month of July 3-0 with a 3.08 ERA in five starts. Next up for him is a start in Atlanta. He fanned 10 while allowing two runs over five innings in his previous start against the Braves back in April.

Coors was no issue for Cavalli. Eddy Yean and Max Kranick finished up the six-hitter after Cavalli got through seven in 90 pitches. It’s Cavalli’s first scoreless start this year, and he’s up to 14th in the majors with 127 strikeouts in 110 2/3 innings. He’ll face the Blue Jays next week.

Both runs came on Tyler Soderstrom’s homer in the fourth. Cavalli went without a walk for the sixth time in 21 starts this season and upped his K/BB ratio to 119/32 K/BB in 104 2/3 innings. He might start to run out of gas at some point — his career-high for innings is 123 1/3 — but things continue to look quite good for the short term. He’ll face the Rockies in Coors next week, and while that’s not necessarily a great ERA bet, he should have a pretty good chance at notching another win.

The Nationals will open the second half with Cavalli on the mound. He’ll be followed by Zack Littell (who has been opened for recently) on Saturday. and Foster Griffin on Sunday. Cavalli’s first half ended with a 3.83 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings. He’s been going deeper into starts lately and is a viable 12-team starter against West Sacramento on Friday.

It was Cavalli’s first start since he served a five-game — originally seven-game, but reduced on appeal — suspension for his involvement for the scuffle against the Red Sox the previous week. He exited with a lead, but as has been the case many times for the Nationals in 2026, the bullpen did not get the job done. Cavalli struck out five against one walk while allowing four hits. It seems likely Cavalli will start one of the first games after the break for the Nationals.