Game 11: Cardinals at Nats

Cade Cavalli makes his third start of the season as the Nationals look to keep their strong offensive start to the season going against St. Louis

What a difference a late rally makes for everyone’s mood, huh? When the Nationals came up to bat in the bottom of the eighth Monday night, trailing the Cardinals 6-3 after another bullpen implosion, morale was sinking. But when James Wood, Brady House and CJ Abrams each homered to complete a six-run rally and propel them to a 9-6 win, spirits soared again. At 4-6, the situation feels much more hopeful than it would have at 3-7.

The Nats are hoping not to need to score as many runs tonight, because they’re hoping Cade Cavalli delivers a quality start and takes some pressure off that bullpen. The burgeoning ace has looked good in his first two starts of the season, especially last time out in Philadelphia. The next step for the right-hander: A few more quick, clean innings, which will keep his pitch count down and allow him to go deeper in the game.

The Nationals have made their first bullpen change of the young season. They optioned Andre Granillo (who, by the way, was denied the win Monday night when the official scorer invoked the “brief-and-ineffective” rule) to Triple-A after the game. And this afternoon they activated right-hander Paxton Schultz, who opened the season on the 15-day IL with elbow inflammation but made three rehab appearances for Rochester and is now ready to go.

Blake Butera will have a right-handed-heavy lineup tonight against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore. The club’s Opening Day starter is off to a good start himself, having held the Rays and Mets to a combined two runs over 11 innings, though he has notched only four strikeouts.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Clear, 52 degrees, wind 13 mph in from left

CARDINALS
2B JJ Wetherholt
DH Iván Herrera
1B Alec Burleson
RF Jordan Walker
3B Nolan Gorman
SS Masyn Winn
LF Thomas Saggese
C Pedro Pagés
CF Victor Scott II

LHP Matthew Liberatore

NATIONALS
LF James Wood
1B Curtis Mead
3B Brady House
DH Daylen Lile
RF Joey Wiemer
SS CJ Abrams
CF Jacob Young
2B Nasim Nuñez
C Keibert Ruiz

RHP Cade Cavalli

PREGAME NOTES

Photo by Saúl Martinez / NATS JOURNAL

SCHULTZ EAGER TO HELP BULLPEN
Upon learning he had been claimed by the Nationals off waivers in January, Paxton Schultz made it his goal to make the club’s Opening Day bullpen. Then two weeks into spring training, he was shelved with inflammation in his elbow, an injury that left him shut down from throwing for only six days but was significant enough to prevent him from realizing his goal.

Though he was already throwing in minor-league games by the end of camp, Schultz did have to open the season on the 15-day IL. He immediately joined Triple-A Rochester for a rehab assignment. And after three relief appearances, he was deemed ready to go, activated this afternoon to take the spot previously held by Andre Granillo.

“I set out to have a big goal of making the Opening Day roster. That was the first thing I wanted to do when coming here to the Nationals,” the 28-year-old said. “But I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason. I’m glad it was nothing serious, just a minor thing that came up. My mindset shifted to making sure I’m all the way healthy and can help the team the best I can. I feel like I’m in that position now.”

Originally a 14th-round pick of the Brewers in 2019, Schultz made his MLB debut last season for the Blue Jays and wound up with a 4.38 ERA, 1.419 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings. With experience as a short reliever, long man and starter, the right-hander says he’s available for whatever the Nats need after getting enough work in both West Palm Beach and Rochester over the last few weeks.

“I feel like the workload’s in a good place,” he said, “and I’ll be ready to go tonight.”