The Nationals were in dire need of a turnaround after a string of tough losses, and last night, Foster Griffin answered the call in spectacular fashion. As the team's ace, Griffin delivered a commanding performance, throwing 112 pitches over seven innings, showcasing why he’s become one of the Nationals' best investments in recent memory.
Griffin, a $5.5 million signing from Japan, is proving to be worth every penny. He's on track to pitch nearly 190 innings with an ERA under 3.00, a feat that seemed improbable back in April when some thought he was riding a wave of luck. But now, Griffin is not just surviving-he's thriving.
Manager Blake Butera's decision to let Griffin throw 112 pitches speaks volumes about the trust he has in his lefty. In today's game, reaching that pitch count is rare, indicating a perfect storm of confidence in the starter and skepticism about the bullpen. And as we saw in the eighth inning, Butera’s instincts were spot on.
Typically, a pitcher nearing 100 pitches by the sixth inning is done for the night. But Griffin isn’t your typical pitcher.
Butera’s willingness to extend him beyond conventional limits harks back to the days of Max Scherzer, when pitch counts were more flexible. It’s a testament to Griffin’s growing reliability and Butera’s adaptive management style.
For a while, Griffin’s ERA seemed too good to be true, given his underlying stats. But his recent performances have aligned those metrics more closely with his impressive ERA of 2.93. His xERA and xFIP have both dipped below 4.00, signaling a sustainable approach to his dominance on the mound.
Griffin’s current xFIP of 3.58 and xERA of 3.89 give a clearer picture of his capabilities, perhaps more so than his sparkling ERA. While his 4.21 FIP might suggest vulnerability to the long ball, his ability to rack up strikeouts and limit walks paints a picture of a pitcher in control.
Pitching at an All-Star level, Griffin is making a strong case for inclusion among the National League’s elite starters. The Nationals are 13-4 in games he starts, underscoring his role as the team's go-to guy when a win is crucial.
June has been particularly kind to Griffin, with a jaw-dropping 1.15 ERA over 31.1 innings in five starts. Averaging over six innings per start, Griffin is performing like a true frontline starter. Despite not possessing overwhelming velocity, his 33 strikeouts this month and a minuscule four walks highlight his command and effectiveness.
While Jacob Misiorowski might overshadow him for NL Pitcher of the Month honors, Griffin’s battle with Logan Webb for the best non-supernatural pitcher is a storyline worth watching. His success raises intriguing questions about the potential talent pool in Japan and whether more pitchers could benefit from a stint overseas.
Griffin's transformation during his time in Japan, where he added three new pitches and honed his command, is a testament to the value of international experience. It’s a strategy that could pay dividends for other teams looking for untapped talent.
As the trade deadline looms, the Nationals face a decision: trade Griffin for value or explore a contract extension. His performance this season rivals the best in Nationals history since Max Scherzer, and it would be a shame for his tenure to end prematurely.
To keep Griffin beyond August 3rd, the Nats need to either make a playoff push or secure his services for the future. Foster Griffin has become the stopper the Nationals have long needed, and his impact is undeniable.
In Other News...
Tigers Move On From Lefty As Bullpen Reality Sets In
Konnor Pilkingtons latest stop in Detroit ended earlier this week, when the Tigers released the left-hander after a stretch that included time with Triple-A Toledo. Signed to a minor league deal before spring training, Pilkington was brought in as organizational pitching depth, but his performance never fully settled in, continuing a career pattern that has been defined by command issues.
For Washington, the name still carries a little more familiarity than most waiver-wire arm. Pilkington spent time in the Nationals bullpen before being designated for assignment in January, and his profile has remained the same wherever he has landed: live enough to keep getting looks, but with the kind of walk problems that make it hard to trust him in a big-league relief role. The Tigers move simply reinforces the question other clubs will have to answer if they decide he is worth another shot. [Read more 🡒]
Luis Garcia Jr. Is Forcing A Nationals Question Fans Won't Ignore
Luis Garcia Jr. spent the week doing exactly what the Nationals have been waiting to see from him. The first baseman homered twice against the Orioles, then closed out a six-homer week that put him squarely in the middle of the clubs evolving offensive picture. For a team looking for signs of a more consistent middle-order threat, Garcias recent power burst has been impossible to overlook.
The broader question now is how much of that production the Nationals can keep in the lineup going forward, especially with the way their schedule is shaping up. Garcia has been getting limited run against left-handers, but he has still made the most of those chances, and his recent surge only adds to the pressure on the coaching staff to keep the bat in the order while its hot. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Deadline Picture Just Shifted In A Way Fans Feared
The Nationals recent surge has only sharpened the conversation around the trade deadline, because a club that looks closer to the race has to weigh whether it should add now or keep building for later. Washington has been linked in broad terms to starting pitching upgrades, and that made the latest chatter from around the Angels worth watching closely as possible rotation help began to look like a fit.
Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY noted that Los Angeles is not planning to move Reid Detmers or Jose Soriano, which immediately cools one avenue Washington had been hoping might open. Even if that changes, the bigger question for the Nationals is whether the price on a controllable starter would be palatable enough to justify the sort of prospect cost that usually comes with a deadline push. [Read more 🡒]