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.06/29
- 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.06/14
- Day-To-DayTyler Stuart (SP) — no05/25
- Day-To-DayTyler Baum (DH) — Baum has not pitched this year due an undisclosed injury.05/08
- 15-Day-ILRichard Lovelady (RP) — The Nationals placed Lovelady on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left triceps strain.06/29
- 15-Day-ILMitchell Parker (RP) — The Nationals placed Parker on the 15-day injured list Monday with left elbow inflammation.06/29
- 15-Day-ILJake Irvin (SP) — Irvin (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.06/22
- 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.06/29
- 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP) — Herz (elbow) was diagnosed Monday with a left flexor strain, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.06/22
- 60-Day-ILMax Kranick (RP) — Kranick (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Single-A Fredericksburg on Sunday, striking out two over 1.2 perfect innings.06/22
- 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP) — Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure April 21 and is hopeful to return to game action at some point early in the 2027 season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.06/11
- 60-Day-ILJosiah Gray (SP) — Gray (elbow) has resumed a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayHobie Harris (RP) — Harris was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.05/08
- 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.06/27
- 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.06/26
- 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.06/12
- 15-Day-ILJovani Moran (RP) — Moran (elbow) will make at least one more rehab appearance before being activated, MLB.com reports.06/27
- OutBrendan Rodgers (2B) — Rodgers (shoulder) re-signed Friday with the Red Sox on a two-year, minor-league contract, Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com reports.05/08
- 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.06/29
- 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.06/28
- 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.06/22
- 60-Day-ILTrevor Story (SS) — Story (abdomen) has begun jogging and swinging off a tee, MLB.com reports.06/20
- 60-Day-ILKutter Crawford (SP) — Interim manager Chad Tracy said Tuesday that Crawford (elbow) is dealing with moderate tightness in his right forearm, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.06/02
- 60-Day-ILTriston Casas (1B) — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters Wednesday that Casas (abdomen/knee) is close to being cleared to swing a bat, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILTanner Houck (SP) — Houck (elbow) has been making throws out to 105 feet three days per week, MLB.com reports.05/15
- 60-Day-ILJohan Oviedo (SP) — Oviedo (elbow) will be reevaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in two weeks to determine his progress, Marcos Grunfeld of ElEmergente.com reports.05/08
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.