Ahead of 16 games in 16 days beginning Friday against the Baltimore Orioles, the Washington Nationals have made a pair of roster moves with its pitching staff
After Thursday's deflating loss, the Washington Nationals are making two more roster moves with its pitching staff with one headed back down to Triple A Rochester and one headed up.
Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reported that left handed pitcher Andrew Alvarez is being recalled from Triple A Rochester. This will mark just his second appearance of the season after making his season debut back on April 19 when he allowed four hits and tossed five strikeouts on 62 pitches in 4.1 innings.
In his first season with the organization in 2025, Alvarez recorded a 2.31 ERA while throwing 20 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. In Rochester this season, Alvarez has notched a 2-1 record, 1.35 WHIP and 5.29 ERA while throwing 45 strikeouts in 34 innings.
Whether Alvarez's second stint in the majors this season lasts long than one game will be a question mark as Washington prepares for 16 games over the next 16 days, giving Blake Butera and Paul Toboni a chance to turn to some depth while both Clayton Beeter and Cole Henry inch closer to full strength and a spot on the rotation.
Yet to make room for Alvarez, the Nationals first announced that right handed pitcher Zak Kent has been optioned to Triple A Rochester. Whether he accepts the assignment is another question after already pitching for the Minnesota Twins earlier this season.
Kent appeared in Thursday's loss where Kent allowed a two run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to make it an 11-0 game, finishing the game with two hits allowed and a pair of strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
Ahead of Thursday, Kent owned a 1.06 ERA, threw five strikeouts and allowed six hits in 5.2 innings and four appearances.
Kent was previously claimed back on May 4 as the front office also made a flurry of roster moves across the pitching staff.
Whether any other moves come to fruition this weekend will be worth watching as the Nationals prepare for the first round of the Beltway Series. Washington is set to host the Baltimore Orioles for a three-game series beginning Friday night.
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