The Nationals leave the four-game series against the Mets knowing they can compete with a team that has the sport’s highest payroll.
The Nationals lost Thursday’s series finale 2-1 but split the series with their division rival. Cade Cavalli allowed two runs in the third inning after giving up three consecutive singles but rebounded and gave the Nationals seven innings, striking out nine and allowing four hits.
Cavalli completed the seventh inning for the first time all season and just the second time in his career. Cavalli was most proud that he saved the bullpen work. He succeeded by staying aggressive in the strike zone. He threw 21 first-pitch strikes, seven of which came on his knuckle curveball.
The Nationals just couldn’t produce the big hit — going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Now they head to Atlanta to face a red-hot Braves team to begin a six-game road trip.
“Overall, felt like we had a chance to win all of them,” manager Blake Butera said. “Proud of the way the guys fought today, specifically, just ended up being a pitchers’ duel.”
Mead’s maturity
Curtis Mead is the man of many positions. He’s taken reps at first, second and third. But, after Brady House was optioned to Triple-A Rochester, Mead will be the primary third baseman when there’s a left-handed starter on the mound. He’ll remain in the platoon at first base with Luis García Jr.
A key for Mead has been maintaining his arm strength while receiving the majority of his reps at first base. He’s also been working on sharpening his prepitch routine and footwork while manning the hot corner.
“A lot of [my pregame work] is emphasizing my footwork and throwing the ball,” Mead said. “At first and second, you can get away with a little bit of different stuff with your feet. At third, you have to be sharper with your footwork and put yourself in a better position to throw the ball across the diamond.”
Mead’s progression on defense is partly why he’ll receive the bulk of his at-bats against left-handers — he’s mashing against them, posting an .811 OPS before Thursday’s game.
The organization is comfortable sticking him at third, trusting he’ll make the routine play more times than not, and his bat has proven he deserves a spot in the lineup.
Before Thursday’s game, Mead had posted a weighted runs created plus of 130; the league average is 100. He’s being patient, drawing walks while rarely striking out.
Mead hasn’t had much stability in his major league career despite being a former top-100 prospect. Shuffling between the minors and majors taught him to be grounded.
After a while, he realized he couldn’t chase the idea of how his career was supposed to turn out but he could maximize any opportunities he earned to stick in the majors.
“Curtis has come to that realization now that it might be, ‘Hey, most of my at-bats should be against left-handed starters, and if I do really well there, then maybe I’ll get some right-handed at-bats,’ which he has. We’ve pinch-hit him earlier in games this year because of the success that he’s had,” Butera said. “Curtis’ mindset has shifted, to a point, and he’s a very cerebral kid to where he understands where he fits.”
Bullpen shake-up
The Nationals optioned left-handed reliever PJ Poulin to Triple-A on Wednesday and activated Clayton Beeter off the injured list. He pitched a scoreless eighth against the Mets.
The 27-year-old reliever posted a 3.48 ERA over 10 games before landing on the IL in April with right forearm discomfort. Before his injury, Beeter was one of the team’s trusted high-leverage arms.
“Clayton was big for us before he went down,” Butera said pregame. “[It’s going to] be really nice to add him to the [bullpen].”
Entering Thursday, the Nationals had the lowest strikeouts per nine innings in the majors and the third-lowest fastball velocity. It’s hard for a bullpen to sustain without guys who can overpower hitters.
Beeter’s fastball sits at 96.5 mph, which ranks in the 81st percentile in the majors. Beeter said he’s been enjoying watching the way the guys have been throwing the ball.
This article has been updated.
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