The Nationals made a clear call this week: Cade Cavalli is getting extra breathing room before the season runs out.
Cavalli, who was originally lined up to start Wednesday, will now take the ball Friday night in St. Louis against the Cardinals.
Washington made the switch on Tuesday night, choosing to slow things down for its emerging ace after a long year. Jared Simpson will handle a bullpen game on Wednesday instead.
That move fits the way the Nationals have handled Cavalli all season. He’s been one of the biggest bright spots for a club still trying to pile up wins down the stretch, but he’s also the pitcher they’re most interested in protecting.
Cavalli has battled plenty of injury trouble in his career, and this is the first time he’s been healthy for a full major league season. The team is clearly weighing the future as much as the present.
The timing comes after a rougher night for Washington, which was shut out by the Phillies in a 3-0 loss. That game was supposed to feature Cavalli, but instead the Nationals will give him the extra rest and send him out later in the week against a Cardinals team that looks like a more manageable matchup on paper than a Phillies club chasing playoff positioning.
Still, Cavalli has earned the trust. His second-half run has been strong enough that the Nationals feel comfortable using him against anyone, and his start against the Dodgers backed that up. He’s been so steady that he’s now looking like a true quality start machine, and one of the game’s elite starters.
Washington may not be done adjusting his workload, either. Cavalli is likely in line for one more start after Friday, probably next week, but that one could be pushed back again depending on how the Nationals view his stamina to close out his first full MLB season.
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