The Washington Nationals are getting a notable arm back at a time when they could use one.
After falling short of a sweep against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday in a 5-3 loss, Washington still comes into Monday’s series opener against the Detroit Tigers having won six of its last seven. The bullpen coughed up another lead and save chance in the finale, but the bigger picture has still been encouraging after the club shook off a rough stretch.
Now the focus shifts to DJ Herz, who is set to make his first major league start in almost two years. According to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic, the Nationals announced that the left-hander will start Monday against Detroit.
Herz’s last MLB appearance came on Sept. 25, 2024, and he has been working his way back after an elbow injury led to Tommy John surgery. Before that setback, he had flashed real promise in 2024, posting a 4.16 ERA in 19 starts with 106 strikeouts and 36 walks across 88 2/3 innings. That performance had put him in position to be part of the rotation conversation heading into 2025.
The road back has not been smooth. In four Triple-A outings, Herz gave up eight earned runs on 12 hits over 13 innings, good for a 5.54 ERA. That makes Monday something of a measuring stick, and it also explains why there are plenty of questions about what the Nationals will get from him right away.
Even so, Herz still matters to Washington’s long-term picture. Cade Cavalli is locked into the ace spot after signing an extension, and the Nationals are still sorting out the rest of the rotation for 2027.
Andrew Alvarez has made his case, and Connelly Early would likely be in the mix if he’s healthy. That still leaves two openings, and Herz figures to be part of that competition this winter and in spring training.
For now, the assignment is simple: take the ball Monday and give the Nationals a fresh look at where he stands. Once he does that, the team can start figuring out how he fits into the rotation picture going forward.
In Other News...
Nationals Depth Pieces Are Forcing Attention In Rochesters Playoff Push
Rochester kept rolling with a 7-3 win over Buffalo, a result that gave the club its second straight victory and its fourth in five games against the Bisons. The Nationals Triple-A affiliate got steady work on the mound from Zak Kent, who allowed one run over four innings, and Joe Glassey, who followed with a scoreless inning to pick up the win. At the plate, Cayden Wallace, Max Romero Jr., and Trey Lipscomb all helped push the offense forward as Rochester continued to play like a team with something real at stake.
The timing matters, too, because every win tightens the picture in the International League playoff race. Rochester is not just padding September numbers here, it is putting pressure on the teams around it while a handful of Nationals depth pieces keep making their case for bigger attention. For a club that has leaned on organizational depth all season, this stretch is exactly the kind of late push that can change how those players are viewed going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Young Core Is Giving Fans A Reason To Watch Again
The Nationals had positioned themselves to finish off a sweep against the Cardinals, and for most of the afternoon the game had the feel of another step forward for a club trying to build around its young core. Washington got solid work from its pitching staff overall, and the kind of competitive effort that Blake Butera and his players have been emphasizing as the season winds down and the organization looks for signs that the long rebuild is taking hold.
What lingered afterward was the frustration of watching a lead slip away late, with the bullpen unable to close the door and turn a promising day into a complete one. Even so, the bigger takeaway for the Nationals has been the same for several weeks now: this roster is playing with more purpose, more energy and a little more reason for fans to stay engaged as the season nears its end. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Have A Late Season Chance Fans Should Care About
A late-season series against the Cardinals has given Washington something it has not always had this year: a meaningful reason to keep watching. The Nationals have already improved on last seasons win total, they have gotten strong pitching stretches from Andrew Alvarez and Cade Cavalli, and their offense has done enough to rank third in MLB in runs scored. Even with a staff that has allowed 4.66 earned runs per game, the clubs plus-14 run differential reflects a team that has been better than its place in the standings might suggest.
Jake Irvin takes the ball as the Nationals continue sorting out more than just the next game. He is arbitration-eligible, and the organization is weighing what his future role should look like as it evaluates the pieces that fit beyond this season. A win here would also keep Washington in control of its own path and preserve a two-game edge over the Mets, which means the final week still carries a little edge for a fan base that has spent much of the year waiting for one. [Read more 🡒]