Cavalli (4-4, 4.00 ERA) draws Connelly Early (7-5, 3.59 ERA) at 7:10 PM ET in game 2 of this Fenway set. Both starters are pitching well enough that this matchup is more interesting than Boston's recent momentum would suggest.
The Red Sox narrative right now is all hot streak — 5 straight wins after sweeping the Yankees in 4 at Fenway, then beating the Nationals Monday night. That's real. But the standings still say Boston is 37-46, and the Nationals are 43-43. Washington is the better team by record and is getting plus money on the road. That tension is the story of this game.
Early has been one of the more reliable arms in a Boston rotation that has posted an MLB-low 2.13 ERA over its recent stretch. His June 25 start against the Yankees — 6 innings, 2 earned runs, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk on 98 pitches — was one of his cleaner outings of the year. The issue is home runs: Early has surrendered 9 on the season with 7 in his last 5 starts. At Fenway, against a lineup that can make contact, that flaw is worth watching. Cavalli brings his own recent form into this. He has held opponents to 3 earned runs or fewer in 8 straight starts, posting a 3.27 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 44 innings over that span. His June 25 no-decision against the Phillies — 6 innings, 2 earned, 7 strikeouts on 97 pitches — looked like more of the same. The 2020 first-round pick is finally showing what the Nationals drafted him to be.
- Day-To-DayTravis Sykora SP — Sykora (elbow) began a throwing progression at the Nationals' complex in Florida earlier this month and is on schedule in his recovery from the UCL reconstruction surgery he underwent last August, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayJarlin Susana RP — Susana threw from a mound this week for the first time since undergoing lat surgery last September, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayTyler Stuart SP — no
- Day-To-DayTyler Baum DH — Baum has not pitched this year due an undisclosed injury.
- 15-Day-ILRichard Lovelady RP — The Nationals placed Lovelady on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left triceps strain.
- 15-Day-ILMitchell Parker RP — The Nationals placed Parker on the 15-day injured list Monday with left elbow inflammation.
- 15-Day-ILJake Irvin SP — Irvin (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILTrevor Williams SP — Williams (elbow) struck out a batter and allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits and no walks while recording two outs in a rehab start Sunday with Single-A Fredericksburg.
- Day-To-DayHobie Harris RP — Harris was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
- 10-Day-ILIsiah Kiner-Falefa 2B — Kiner-Falefa underwent a CT scan on his left forearm Thursday which revealed a stress reaction, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILMarcelo Mayer 2B — The Red Sox placed Mayer on the 10-day injured list Friday with a stress reaction in his left forearm, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
- 10-Day-ILNick Sogard 3B — Sogard (oblique) told reporters Friday that he plans to start swinging a bat Monday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
- 15-Day-ILJovani Moran RP — Moran (elbow) will make at least one more rehab appearance before being activated, MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILPatrick Sandoval SP — Sandoval (biceps) struck out three and allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk across four innings Sunday in his rehab start with Triple-A Worcester.
- 60-Day-ILRoman Anthony LF — The Red Sox transferred Anthony (finger/wrist) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
- 60-Day-ILGarrett Crochet SP — Crochet (shoulder/lat) has not yet been cleared to resume a throwing program following a scheduled re-evaluation Monday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Washington's pitching depth is a legitimate crisis. DJ Herz (left flexor strain) and Josiah Gray (elbow) are both on the 60-day IL. Trevor Williams is still rehabbing from elbow surgery. Jake Irvin is on the 15-day with a shoulder issue. The Nationals added 2 more relievers to the IL on Monday — Richard Lovelady with a left triceps strain and Mitchell Parker with left elbow inflammation. Cavalli needs to pitch into the seventh, because there is not much behind him right now. Boston is missing some significant pieces of its own — Garrett Crochet (shoulder/lat) hasn't been cleared to throw, and Roman Anthony (finger/wrist) is on the 60-day IL — but the Red Sox have managed anyway. Whether they can sustain it against a Nationals club that is quietly playing above their paygrade is the question that makes Tuesday's game worth watching.