The Nationals’ season has been defined by one ugly number: 38 blown saves. On September 8th, the 2026 Washington Nationals set a Major League Baseball all-time single-season record, and the club has every reason to wear that one like a scar. The bullpen issues haven’t been pinned on one arm alone, but the overall collapse has helped drag the team into a mess they’ll need to clean up this offseason.
That cleanup should start with relief help. Washington’s starters who stayed after the trade deadline haven’t exactly steadied things, either, but the lineup has actually done its job. The real offseason priority is obvious: find a legitimate reliever willing to join a current bottom-feeder and help push the Nationals back toward the conversation they were in before 2020, when they were still fresh off winning the World Series in 2019.
Two names look especially unlikely to survive the roster churn.
Clayton Beeter has simply not held up. He’s back in the minors now after a rough stretch, and his season numbers explain why.
In 50 appearances and 48.0 innings, he’s been charged with seven of Washington’s 38 blown saves. His 4.50 ERA leaves him with a 97 ERA+, three points below league average.
The control has been shaky too, with 5.8 walks per nine innings, and even though his 8.8 strikeouts per nine offers a small silver lining, it hasn’t been enough to offset the damage. He’s also allowing 6.8 hits per nine innings, another sign this season has gone sideways.
There just isn’t much reason to keep him around as the Nationals try to rebuild.
Jake Irvin’s case is different, but the result looks the same. One of the club’s longer-tenured arms, he debuted with Washington in 2023 and has been a disappointment in 2026.
Across 20 games, including 19 starts, he’s sitting at 2-9 with a 5.51 ERA and a 78 ERA+. He also spent time on the injured list with a right shoulder strain, adding another layer to an already rough year for a starter who hasn’t delivered nearly enough consistency.
The Nationals have plenty to sort out, but these two players don’t look like part of the next version of the roster.
In Other News...
Yovanny Cruz Is Giving The Nationals A Bullpen Question Worth Watching
Yovanny Cruzs latest appearance gave the Nationals another encouraging look at a reliever who seems to be settling in after his stint at Triple-A. Sent down to work on his mechanics, Cruz came back with noticeably better command and a sharper feel for how to attack hitters, and Washington has every reason to keep paying attention when a bullpen arm starts pairing confidence with cleaner execution.
His outing also hinted at something new in the mix, with a different pitch giving him another way to navigate a major league lineup. Cruz kept traffic off the bases, limited quality contact and fit into a relief effort that saw the Nationals bullpen pile up four scoreless innings, leaving the club with a worthwhile question about where he fits once those mechanics keep holding up. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Prospect Choices For Fall Ball Say Plenty About Their Plans
Rochesters recent 9-8 loss to Buffalo offered a little bit of everything for the Nationals Triple-A affiliate, from a productive night at the plate to a rough outing on the mound. Riley Adams, Sam Petersen and Cayden Wallace each chipped in multiple hits and runs, giving the lineup enough punch to stay in the game even as the pitching staff worked through a tough one.
The bigger organizational tell, though, may have come with Washington sending six prospects to the Arizona Fall Leagues Salt River Rafters, a move that lines up with the clubs desire to get certain young players more reps before next season. Fall ball assignments are always part evaluation and part opportunity, and this batch of names suggests the Nationals are still sorting out which arms and bats need the most live action in a developmental setting. [Read more 🡒]
Paul Toboni's First Year Is Giving Nationals Fans Real Hope
Paul Tobonis first year running baseball operations in Washington has already shown up in the most encouraging place a rebuilding franchise can look: the farm system. Across the Nationals affiliates, the broad performance trends moved in the right direction, with better winning percentage, more power, stronger offensive production and cleaner pitching results, a sign that the organizational reset is starting to take hold in a real way.
The improvement tracks back to a series of changes Toboni pushed through after taking over, including new technology, updated training methods, more modern coaching hires and a more uniform approach to player development. For a club trying to build its next core from the ground up, the progress in the minors does not solve everything, but it does suggest the Nationals are finally creating a clearer path for prospects to follow. [Read more 🡒]