Nationals Notes: Connelly Early Debut, Pitcher DFA'd, Last Game

The Washington Nationals saw the long awaited debut officially materialize inside Nationals Park on Saturday afternoon.

Connelly Early made his first appearance in a Nationals uniform, tossing one strikeout and allowing one hit across three innings in an encouraging debut. The lone hit allowed came against Juan Soto in the top of the first inning before forcing eight consecutive batters out for a clean performance. Yet it did not end well for the Nationals after falling, 7-1, against the New York Mets to even the series and set up one final rubber match to close the regular season.

Early entered Saturday expecting to toss no more than two or three innings as the Nationals ease him back in after months of rehab appearances from left elbow inflammation. Yet with Cade Cavalli scratched for his final start after manager Blake Butera cited his nearly 170 innings pitched this season, Saturday's start marked an encouraging sign for Early to ease any potential lingering injury concerns.

Whether the 2027 regular season ultimately materializes is its own question mark, yet Early will also return to the Nationals' roster next season as a key piece in the rotation alongside Cade Cavalli. Yet with the offseason officially less than 24 hours away as president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and the front office near year two of the rebuild, the undoubted top question for the Nationals will be what other reinforcements are in the cards across both the rotation and bullpen given the glaring weakness out of the bullpen and in late inning games.

Yet in maybe the final round of roster moves, the Washington Nationals designated a recently acquired pitcher for assignment in the middle of the final series of the 2026 regular season.

Right handed pitcher Chase Hampton has watched his stint with the Nationals come to an end roughly two weeks after joining the organization.

Hampton, 25, departs the organization having never made an appearance in either the majors or minors, giving another round of an evaluation to Paul Toboni and the rest of the front office.

The Nationals will look to close the season at 77-85 overall when the two teams meet on Sunday afternoon, but due to the ongoing rain, first pitch has been moved up to 1:05 PM. DJ Herz is set to make his second appearance of the season, exactly one week after giving up four earned runs and five hits across four innings in the 9-2 loss against the Detroit Tigers.