2018 Washington Nationals season

This article may be readable prose size was 17,976 words. Consider splitting content into sub-articles, condensing it, or adding subheadings. Please discuss this issue on the article's talk page . (February 2025)

The 2018 Washington Nationals season was the

Nationals Park hosted the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 17, 2018, the first time it hosted a Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It was the fifth MLB All-Star Game held in Washington, D.C., and the first since 1969.

The Washington Nationals announced on October 20, 2017, that manager Dusty Baker and his coaching staff would not return for the 2018 season. Baker had originally been hired after the 2015 season to a two-year deal as manager, which the Nationals opted not to extend.^[1]

Among the candidates interviewed for the managerial opening were

The Nationals had the largest free agent class in Major League Baseball, losing right-handed relievers Matt Albers, Joe Blanton, and Brandon Kintzler; left-handed reliever Óliver Pérez; starting pitcher Edwin Jackson; backup catcher José Lobatón; utility players Stephen Drew and Howie Kendrick; and outfielders Alejandro De Aza, Ryan Raburn, and Jayson Werth to free agency as their contracts expired.^[10] First baseman and left fielder Adam Lind also became a free agent as the Nationals declined his option.^[11] Catcher Matt Wieters decided to exercise his $10.5 million player option, remaining a National for another season.^[12] The Nationals signed nearly half of their departing free agents to new contracts: Kintzler agreed to a new deal including club and player options for the 2019 season to stay in Washington,^[13] and Kendrick agreed to a two-year deal to return,^[14] while Jackson,^[15] Raburn,^[16] and De Aza^[17] re-signed with the Nationals on minor league deals. The team elected to tender one-year contracts to all three of its arbitration-eligible players — third baseman Anthony Rendon, right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark, and outfielder Michael A. Taylor — after having previously reached a one-year extension agreement for right fielder Bryce Harper, who had also been eligible for arbitration in his final year before free agency, for the 2018 season back in May.^[18] The team avoided arbitration with all three players, with salary agreements for each being announced January 12, 2018.^[19]

Rizzo stated the Nationals were primarily interested in adding right-handed relief pitching, along with "depth" for their starting rotation and bench, during the off-season.

• November 14, 2017: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Jaron Long to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[55]
• November 19, 2017: The Nationals signed outfielder Ryan Raburn to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[55]
• December 9, 2017: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher David Goforth to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[56]
• December 16, 2017: The Nationals signed left-handed pitcher Ismael Guillón to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[57]
• December 18, 2017: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher César Vargas to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[58]
• December 21, 2017: The Nationals signed right-handed relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler to a two-year major league contract^[59] and signed left-handed pitcher Tommy Milone^[60] and right-handed pitcher Chris Smith to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training.^[61]
• December 22, 2017: The Nationals signed first baseman and outfielder Matt Adams to a one-year major league contract^[62] and signed infielder and outfielder Chris Dominguez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[63]
• December 29, 2017: The Nationals signed left-handed pitcher Tim Collins to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[64]
• January 3, 2018: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Román Méndez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[65]
• January 10, 2018: The Nationals signed outfielder
  Moises Sierra to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[66]
• January 11, 2018: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Edwin Jackson to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[15]
• January 18, 2018: The Nationals signed second baseman and outfielder Howie Kendrick to a two-year major league contract.^[67]
• January 31, 2018: The Nationals signed infielder Reid Brignac to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[68]
• February 1, 2018: The Nationals signed catcher Miguel Montero to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[55]
• February 12, 2018: The Nationals acquired infielder and outfielder Matt Reynolds from the New York Mets for cash considerations.^[69]
• February 21, 2018: The Nationals signed right-handed relief pitcher
  Joaquin Benoit to a one-year major league contract.^[70]
• March 17, 2018: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.^[71]
• March 24, 2018: The Nationals released infielder Reid Brignac, right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, and outfielder Ryan Raburn from minor league contracts and re-signed Hellickson to a minor league contract.^[72]
• March 27, 2018: The Nationals selected the contract of minor league catcher Miguel Montero.^[73]

The Nationals held spring training at their facility at The Ballpark of The Palm Beaches in

Minor-league spring training began in the first week of March,[95] and on March 5, the Nationals sent left-handed pitcher Seth Romero home to Houston indefinitely from minor-league camp for repeated curfew violations.^[96][97] Romero – the Nationals' first-round pick in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft and ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 5 prospect in the Nationals organization – had been suspended twice and finally dismissed permanently for rules violations during his college career with the University of Houston Cougars baseball team, raising concerns about his character,^[95][96][97] but the Nationals did not cut ties with him. Instead, they gave him a list of things he had to do to earn his way back into the organization,^[95] with the expectation that he would meet those requirements and play in the Nationals' farm system again sometime during the 2018 season.^[95]

The Nationals made a late addition to their slate of non-roster invitees on March 17, 2018, signing starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league camp. Hellickson was reportedly brought into the organization to compete for the last spot in the major league rotation, along with Erick Fedde, Cole, Jackson, and Milone.^[71] The team announced March 23 that Cole would start the season in the major league rotation, with Hellickson working to build up his stamina as a starter.^[98] The Nationals informed Montero the following day that he would open the year as the major league backup catcher behind Matt Wieters.^[99] The day after that, the Nationals optioned utilitymen Matt Reynolds and Adrián Sánchez to the minor leagues, leaving the team with an extra reliever in the bullpen and a four-man bench at the end of the preseason.^[100]

Veteran first baseman Ryan Zimmerman's 2018 spring training regimen was extremely unusual and perhaps unprecedented, sparking much discussion and debate among fans and the press.

The Nationals won their penultimate spring training game, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4–2 on March 25 at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches with starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg striking out 10 Cardinals, most of them regulars, in 5+2⁄3 innings.^[108] They broke camp that day and headed north to Washington, where they completed spring training with an exhibition game at Nationals Park against the Minnesota Twins on March 27. With 23,877 fans looking on – and Zimmerman choosing not to play^[103] – the Twins beat the Nationals 3–1, and Washington finished spring training with a Grapefruit League record of 13–17–2.^[109]

The Nationals' 2018 regular season began a day later than planned when the

Max Scherzer got the Opening Day start for Washington, striking out eight of the first 11 Reds he faced, including seven in a row.^[112] He pitched six shutout innings in which he threw 100 pitches and struck out ten Reds, the 65th 10-strikeout game of his career.^[112] The trio of Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson, and closer Sean Doolittle pitched the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings and preserved the shutout.^[112][113]

On offense, the Nationals got on the board early. In the top of the first inning left fielder

The game took place before 43,878 fans, the largest regular-season crowd in the history of Great American Ball Park.[112] It was Nationals manager Dave Martinez's first career win as a manager.^[112]

The October 1 tiebreaker games were regular-season games that are included here.

The Washington Nationals opened their season with a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, led by left fielder Adam Eaton, who returned from missing eleven months due to a knee injury in April 2017 to go 8-for-13 (.615), including two doubles, two home runs, and a game-opening hit in all three contests, with seven runs scored, five RBIs, and only one strikeout.^[114][115] He went 5-for-5 in the second game of the series on March 31.^[115] Eaton and his teammates combined for eight home runs in the series,^[116] eclipsing the team record of six over the first three games of a season.^{[note 3]} On April 2, Eaton was named National League Player of the Week.^[114]

The Nationals began their next series on April 2 by beating the Atlanta Braves 8–1, winning the first four games of the regular season for the first time since arriving in Washington,^[117] It was the first 4–0 start for the franchise since the Montreal Expos won their first four games in 1983.^[117] They dropped their first game of the year to the Braves on April 3, as starting pitcher A. J. Cole hit his first major league home run in the second inning but surrendered 10 earned runs,^{[note 4]} tying a franchise record for earned runs allowed in a start^{[note 5]} and taking the loss.^[118] Right fielder Bryce Harper homered in his third consecutive game in the 13–6 loss.^[119]

The Nationals returned to Washington with a record of 4–2. Immediately upon their return, general manager

The Nationals snapped their losing streak behind a 102-pitch, complete-game shutout from Scherzer against the Braves at Nationals Park on April 9,[131] his ninth complete game and fifth shutout in his career, in which he allowed two hits and struck out 10 Braves, issuing no walks and not allowing any Brave to reach second base.^[132] Second baseman Howie Kendrick provided all the offense the Nationals needed or would receive in the 2–0 contest with a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning.^[133] Scherzer also notched his first career stolen base on his first career stolen base attempt, singling and then swiping second in the seventh inning^[131] off the battery of Atlanta reliever Peter Moylan and catcher Kurt Suzuki; it was the first time in history a Nationals pitcher stole a base.^{[note 6]} Scherzer's start was nearly matched the following day by Strasburg, who pitched eight shutout innings en route to a 4–1 win over Atlanta. The Nationals activated Montero before the game, although he did not play in it, and placed Solano on the 10-day disabled list with bone chips in his elbow.^[134] Eaton was assigned to the 10-day disabled list as well on April 11 with a bone bruise in his ankle. To fill his spot on the roster, the Nationals selected the contract of outfielder Moisés Sierra from Class-AAA Syracuse. Montero was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Sierra. The Nationals also activated Wieters from the disabled list after he had played in one rehab game at Class-A Advanced Potomac.^[135] Washington was unable to complete a three-game sweep of the Braves later that day, as while Cole was much more effective in his second start of the year, giving up two runs and pitching one out into the sixth inning, and the Nationals were able to force extra innings, veteran setup man Ryan Madson surrendered two runs in the twelfth inning to allow the Braves to win 5–3.^[136]

With their offense slumping, the Nationals followed the loss to Atlanta with two more losses at Nationals Park to the Colorado Rockies. The three-game skid dropped the Nationals' record to 6–8, the first time they had been two games under .500 since May 15, 2015.^[137] The second loss to the Rockies dropped them to 2–8 in their past ten games; their last two such stretches had come in 2013 and 2015, the last two seasons in which they had not made the playoffs.^[137] The Nationals won on April 14 behind another gem by Scherzer—in which he gave up a two-run homer in the first inning but then retired the next 20 batters in a row before leaving the game after seven innings^[138]—but dropped the rubber game against Colorado the next day, with Doolittle serving up a go-ahead home run to Rockies outfielder and former Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond in the ninth inning to lose it. The Nationals went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the game, falling 6–5 despite ten walks, a hit batter, three wild pitches, and a passed ball by Colorado,^[139] and the Nationals completed a disappointing 10-game home stand having gone 3–7. Scherzer was named National League Player of the Week for the period April 9–15,^[138] the fourth Player of the Week award of his career, and his second as a National, the previous one having come for the final week of the 2015 season.^[138]

The Nationals made several roster moves on April 16, optioning reliever

Cole, who had pitched to a 13.06 ERA in 10+1⁄3 innings of work for Washington, was designated for assignment on April 20. The Nationals selected the contract of veteran right-hander Carlos Torres from Class-AAA Syracuse the same day.^[145][146] That evening, the Nationals opened a series in Los Angeles against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a game that was promoted as probably the best pitching match-up of the 2018 regular season:^[147] It pitted two three-time Cy Young Award winners against each other as starting pitchers for only the tenth time in MLB history, in the form of Scherzer and Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. Struggling uncharacteristically, Kershaw quickly fell behind and ultimately allowed four runs to take the loss, with Scherzer outdueling the left-hander.^[147]

On April 21, the Nationals placed Grace on the 10-day disabled list with a groin injury and recalled Gott from Syracuse to replace him in the bullpen,

The Nationals returned to Nationals Park on April 27 to open a 10-day, 10-game homestand with a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They lost the first two games of the series, using every reliever in their bullpen on April 28.^[155] On April 29, they optioned Adams, who had walked in the winning run on April 28, to Syracuse and called up pitcher Austin Voth from Syracuse.^[155] They won the final game of the Arizona series on April 29, and on April 30, they optioned Voth (who did not appear in a major league contest) back to Syracuse and called up right-handed reliever Wander Suero from the Chiefs.^[156] That evening, they closed out the month by opening a four-game series at Nationals Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a win, giving them back-to-back victories for the first time since April 16–17 and for only the third time since opening the season 4–0.^[157]

All told, the Nationals began April by completing a three-game sweep of the Reds, but with subsequent skids including a two-out-of-three series loss to the Braves on the road, a sweep by the Mets in their first home series of the season, a two-of-three loss to the Rockies at home, a West Coast swing in which they won just one game in three against both the Dodgers and the Giants, and a two-of-three loss to the visiting Diamondbacks. Aside from their sweep of the Reds, the Nationals' only series wins of the month were when they hosted the Braves in their second home series of the year and when they visited the Mets to begin their second roadtrip of the season. The Nationals finished April in fourth place in the

On May 1, for the second game of the Pittsburgh series, manager Dave Martinez decided to shake up the lineup by having right fielder Bryce Harper bat leadoff for the first time since 2013, hoping that it would give more at-bats and force opposing pitchers to pitch to him instead of routine walking him.^[160] The move paid off, as Harper broke out with his first home run in two weeks. With additional offense from left fielder Matt Adams and shortstop Trea Turner drove in three runs, the Nationals jumped out to a 12–2 lead behind another strong outing by starter Max Scherzer and hung on for a 12–4 win.^[160] Wander Suero, after 212 minor league games over eight seasons,^[161] made his major-league debut when he relieved Scherzer and pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.^[162][163] The win gave the Nationals their first three-game winning streak since they opened the season 4–0 and improved their record to 14–16.^[160] The streak stretched to four, marking the first time they had had four consecutive victories since the first four games of the season, as starter Stephen Strasburg led the Nationals to a third win over the Pirates on May 2 with an 11-strikeout performance backed by Harper, Adams, and second baseman Howie Kendrick.^[164] The Nationals completed a four-game sweep of the Pirates on May 3, evening their record at 16–16 as closer Sean Doolittle converted his first five-out save in nearly three years.^[165] It was Washington's first five-game winning streak since early September 2017.

The Nationals welcomed the division-rival

The Nationals experienced an unusually long layoff as a two-game homestand against the New York Yankees scheduled to start May 15 was rained out; the teams were able to begin the first game, which was suspended at a 3–3 tie midway through the fifth inning, but it was ultimately continued to June 18 as inclement weather prevented any further action.^[178] The first game of a three-game set at Nationals Park against the Los Angeles Dodgers was also rescheduled as part of a May 19 doubleheader. The time off did not appear to serve Washington well, as although rookie catcher Kieboom made his first career start and recorded his first major league hit in the first game of the day,^[179] the Nationals lost both ends of the doubleheader, as well as the services of stalwart utilityman Kendrick for the remainder of the season when he ruptured his Achilles tendon on a play in left field in the first game.^[180] After placing Kendrick on the disabled list in between games,^[181] the Nationals recalled infielder Adrián Sánchez from Class-AAA Syracuse as the 26th man,^[182] as well as right-handed pitcher Jefry Rodríguez from the Class-AA Harrisburg Senators in his first major league posting.^[183] The following day, Rodríguez was optioned back to Harrisburg without having appeared in a game, and the Nationals elected to promote outfielder Juan Soto from their Class-AA affiliate, designating outfielder Moisés Sierra—who had not notched a hit in nearly one month—for assignment. In earning the promotion, Soto completed a meteoric ascent to the major leagues,^[184] as the Nationals' 19-year-old second-ranked prospect had started the season with the Class-A Hagerstown Suns before making brief stopovers with the High-A Potomac Nationals and Class-AA Senators en route to Washington, amassing a .362 batting average with 14 home runs.^[185] Soto made his major league debut that evening, appearing as a pinch-hitter and striking out swinging as the Nationals were swept by the Dodgers, 7–2, following a poor outing by Washington's starter Strasburg.^[186] The three-game skid marked the Nationals' worst of the month, a disappointment exacerbated as the team lost another key player, setup man Ryan Madson, to the disabled list with a pectoral strain.^[187]

Soto and the Nationals fared better on May 21, as the teenage left fielder made his first career start and hit the first pitch he saw from San Diego Padres starter Robbie Erlin into the left field seats at Nationals Park for an opposite-field, three-run home run.^{[note 8]} Left-handed relief pitcher Tim Collins, whose contract was purchased from Class-AAA Syracuse to replace Madson in the bullpen—Kendrick was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster—also made his season debut in the May 21 game, appearing for the first time in a major league game since the 2014 World Series and pitching a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.^[188] The Nationals went on to thrash the Padres 10–2, then walked off over the visitors in the ninth inning 2–1 the following day as center fielder Michael A. Taylor doubled home Soto, who reached base in all four of his plate appearances,^{[note 9]} for the winning run.^[189] However, they dropped the final game of the three-game series on May 23 as spot starter Erick Fedde, recalled for the day from Class-AAA Syracuse for his season debut and fourth career start, was outdueled by San Diego ace Tyson Ross.^[190] To make room for Fedde on the roster, the Nationals designated Carlos Torres for assignment after a string of mixed results for the veteran right-hander out of the bullpen.^[191] That bullpen spot was filled on May 25 as the Nationals selected the contract of 30-year-old right-hander Justin Miller from Syracuse.^[192]

Scherzer led the Nationals to a series-opening 9–5 win against the division-rival

The month of June got off to a poor start for the Nationals as they were shut out for only the second time of the season by Atlanta Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz.^[204] A lethargic offense in the third game of the series on June 2 received a shot in the arm from 19-year-old left fielder Juan Soto, who homered to tie the game in the seventh inning,^[205] and then Max Scherzer, as the Nationals ace pinch-hit and singled in the fourteenth inning, then scored from first base on a triple by second baseman Wilmer Difo to give the Nationals a late lead.^[206] Catcher Spencer Kieboom also delivered with his first career RBI, driving in Difo to round out the 5–3 finish.^[179] The Nationals bullpen also contributed seven innings without allowing a baserunner, with reliever Justin Miller throwing a career-high three innings to earn the win.^[205] On the heels of the dramatic extra-innings victory, the Nationals placed reliever Tim Collins on paternity leave June 3 and recalled Jefry Rodríguez from the Class-AA Harrisburg Senators for the second time of the season to serve as a long reliever if necessary.^[207] As it turned out, the Nationals needed Rodríguez after starter Jeremy Hellickson exited in the first inning due to a hamstring injury on a play at first base. In his major league debut, Rodríguez contributed 4+2⁄3 innings while allowing just one run inherited from Hellickson. However, when manager Dave Martinez turned to starter Tanner Roark in the ninth inning with his bullpen severely depleted, Roark surrendered a two-run walk-off home run to Charlie Culberson, with the Braves winning 4–2.^[208]

The Nationals reinstated Collins from paternity leave and fellow left-handed reliever

The Nationals activated infielder Daniel Murphy from the 10-day disabled list, optioning infielder Adrián Sánchez to Class-AAA Syracuse, to make his season debut as the designated hitter^[217] as they visited Yankee Stadium for a two-game interleague series with the New York Yankees on June 12. But even with Murphy and Eaton both in the lineup for the first time since April 2017, the Nationals' offensive woes continued as Yankees starter CC Sabathia led his team in a 3–0 blanking of the visitors despite a quality start turned in by Roark.^[218] Washington bounced back from the back-to-back shutouts the next game, however. With top pitching prospect Erick Fedde recalled from Class-AAA Syracuse to replace Strasburg in the rotation, Gott optioned back to Syracuse to make room,^[219] the Nationals rallied for a 5–4 victory behind their rookie left fielder Soto, who batted in four runs on two home runs in his first career multi-homer game.^{[note 12]} Miller, celebrating his 31st birthday, notched his fourth win of the season with a scoreless relief outing, striking out four Yankees.^[220] The Nationals continued their tour of the American League East with a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on the road, with Murphy again DHing and notching his first hit and RBI of the season in the series opener on June 15,^[221] although Miller also allowed his first run of the season on a homer by Blue Jays third baseman Yangervis Solarte^[222] that led Toronto to a 6–5 win over Washington.^[223] For the second straight Scherzer start, and the third time in five games, the Nationals were shut out on June 16 by former National Marco Estrada and the Blue Jays' bullpen. In a near-clone of the game the Nationals lost to the Giants on June 10, Scherzer surrendered a two-run home run to Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis and received no run support as Toronto cruised from there to a 2–0 finish. It was the first time since August 2015 that Scherzer received losing decisions in back-to-back starts.^[224] The Blue Jays went on to sweep the series on June 17, 8–6, scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on the first home run reliever Ryan Madson had allowed since June 2017, off the bat of Toronto left fielder Teoscar Hernández, which was immediately followed by another solo shot by the third baseman Solarte.^[225]

Resuming the suspended game against the Yankees at Nationals Park from May 15, the Nationals scored the eventual winning run on a statistical oddity, as Soto—pinch-hitting for left fielder Matt Adams—hit a two-run home run in a game that technically started five days before he made his major league debut.^[226] Washington and New York went on to split the June 18 twin-bill, with the Nationals winning the continuation of the May 15 game 5–3, as Suero earned his first career win in relief,^[227] and the Yankees pinning a loss on Fedde and the Nationals in the second game, which finished as a 4–2 loss despite a late rally in the ninth inning against closer Aroldis Chapman. In another unusual statistic, the Nationals went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the second game, scoring both their runs on sacrifice flies by first baseman Mark Reynolds.^[228] During the latter game, the Nationals announced that they had swung an early midseason trade for Kansas City Royals closer Kelvin Herrera, trading infielder Kelvin Gutiérrez off their 40-man roster along with minor league outfielder Blake Perkins and minor league pitcher Yohanse Morel.^[229] Martinez confirmed after the game that incumbent closer Sean Doolittle, who finished out the first game of the day to notch his eighteenth save of the season, would retain his ninth-inning duties, with Herrera shifting into a new role with the Nationals.^[230] Herrera was activated the following day, with Suero optioned to Class-AAA Syracuse. Their injury woes continuing, the Nationals also listed Adams on the 10-day disabled list with a broken finger sustained on a bunt attempt in Toronto, recalling Rodríguez to make his first career start in place of the injured Hellickson, against the Orioles at Nationals Park.^[231] Rodríguez struggled, giving up five runs over five innings, but the Nationals rallied from a four-run deficit behind a four-hit day from shortstop Trea Turner, who came a triple from the cycle in the eventual 9–7 victory.^[232] Herrera also made his Nationals debut in the June 19 win, pitching a perfect eighth inning in relief.^[233] The Nationals were shut out by Andrew Cashner and the Orioles in the second game of the series, which finished early in the morning of June 21 after being interrupted by a rain delay of more than two hours, as the home team fell 3–0 in their fifth game of the month without pushing across a score.^[234] However, they rebounded behind another strong outing from Scherzer in the rubber match that evening, with Herrera picking up his first win as a National^[235] after his scoreless relief outing in the eighth inning of a tie game was followed by a two-run double by Soto, batting cleanup for the first time in his major league career,^{[note 13]} that gave the Nationals their final 4–2 margin of victory.^[236] The win was Washington's 40th of the season.^[237]

The Nationals' offense was moribund for two and a half games against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, who were on the verge of a three-game sweep in Washington^[238] until the Nationals mounted a furious rally June 24 and into the early morning of June 25, in a game that was nationally televised by ESPN on Sunday Night Baseball.^[239] The home team stormed back from a four-run deficit with six unanswered runs in a hitting outburst keyed by Harper and Murphy, both of whom had been struggling at the plate throughout the month of June, along with Turner, Rendon, Soto, and center fielder Michael A. Taylor. The Nationals won 8–6 to salvage the series.^[240] However, the offensive resurgence did not last as the Nationals traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida, for a two-game interleague series against the Rays. The visitors were shut out in both games, with Scherzer suffering his third loss of the month without any run support to back a quality start on June 26 as the Nationals lost 1–0.^[241] The team did welcome back Kintzler, who was activated at the start of the Tampa Bay series as Rodríguez was optioned to Class-AAA Syracuse.^[242]

Following a series-opening loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 28, the Nationals rebounded in the second game on June 29, hitting a season-high seven home runs^{[note 14]} and scoring 17 runs to back Fedde in the rookie right-hander's first career win, topping their division rival Philadelphia by a 10-run margin.^[243] The Phillies were able to hold the Nationals in check in the third game of the four-game set, overcoming an early exit by starter Vince Velasquez after an Eaton line drive ricocheted off his pitching arm to win 4–3 and deal the first loss of the season to Hellickson,^[244] who was activated off the disabled list before the game—with reliever Sammy Solís being optioned to Class-AAA Syracuse, as the Nats also activated suspended catcher Raudy Read and optioned him to Syracuse, transferring injured first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list in a corresponding move.^[245]

The end of June marked the mathematical halfway point at which the Nationals had played 81 of their 162 scheduled regular-season games in 2018. Washington finished June with a 9–16 win–loss record (not counting the continuation of the May 15 game versus the Yankees), their worst record in a full calendar month since

Washington returned catcher Matt Wieters from the disabled list on July 9, optioning catcher Pedro Severino, who had struggled both offensively and in working with the Nationals pitching staff while filling in for Wieters, to Class-AAA Syracuse.^[263] Despite the return of Wieters, the Nationals dropped their series opener at PNC Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates that day, as Rodríguez turned in yet another rocky start, giving up six runs in his first two innings of work. That was all the Pirates needed, as they cruised to a 6–3 finish to drop the Nationals back down to a .500 record at 45 wins and 45 losses for the season.^[264] With their bullpen virtually exhausted, the Nationals optioned Rodríguez the next morning while also assigning Doolittle—named days earlier alongside Harper and Scherzer as the Nationals' representatives at the 2018 All-Star Game^[265]—to the 10-day disabled list with what was described as right toe inflammation; they called up right-handed pitchers Wander Suero and Austin Voth from Class-AAA Syracuse to replace them on the roster.^[266] Martinez indicated Herrera would take over closing duties while Doolittle was out, and Doolittle confirmed he would not participate in the All-Star Game due to the injury.^[267] Neither Suero nor Voth saw game action in Pittsburgh, as the Nationals proceeded to win 5–1 behind five scoreless innings from a healthy Hellickson on July 10 and lose 2–0 on July 11, their ninth time being shut out since the start of June, despite a quality start from Gio González and strong relief work by Miller and resurgent right-hander Shawn Kelley.^[268] With the failure to take at least two of three against the Pirates, the Nationals again fell back to .500 on the season with just one more series, a four-game set with the division-rival New York Mets, before the All-Star Game.^[269] The Nationals won the first game of that series of July 12 behind Scherzer and home runs from Rendon and Harper, with usual setup man Ryan Madson locking down the save,^[270] but dropped the second as Roark gave up four runs in his first two innings of work and the Nationals' woes hitting with runners in scoring position continued.^[271] Roark himself scored one of the Nationals' two runs in the 4–2 loss after hitting the first triple by a Washington pitcher in more than a decade.^{[note 19]} Voth was tabbed to make his major league debut as the starter in the July 14 game,^[272] and while he earned his first major league strikeout against the first batter he faced in Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo, he gave up three runs in the second inning and four more in the fifth to take the loss in the 7–4 contest.^[273] The Nationals salvaged a split to head into the All-Star Break with a .500 record, at 48 wins to 48 losses, as Hellickson turned in a quality start and was backed up by the Nationals' bats as he earned the win on July 15, 6–1 over the Mets.^[274]

Despite a successful All-Star Break in which Harper won the

On July 26, the Nationals announced that Strasburg was returning to the 10-day disabled list after just one start, citing a pinched nerve in his neck. Rendon also temporarily departed the team on three-day paternity leave. The Nationals selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Tommy Milone, who had made his major league debut with the Nationals in the 2011 season and re-signed with the organization on a minor league deal over the winter, and recalled utilityman Matt Reynolds to take the place of Strasburg and Rendon on the roster.^[293] First baseman and outfielder José Marmolejos, who had spent the entire season to date with Class-AAA Syracuse, was designated from assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Milone.^[294] Starting in Strasburg's place to begin another four-game series in Miami, Milone gave up three runs in the first inning but settled in to pitch four more scoreless innings, getting a no-decision in what ended up as a 10–3 Nationals win,^[295] as the visitors' offense stirred to life late, keyed by Turner batting in three runs and coming a double shy of hitting for the cycle^[296] and Soto reaching base four times while hitting his 12th home run of the season.^{[note 21]} Washington climbed above the .500 mark for the first time in nearly two weeks on July 27.^[297] Scherzer pitched eight innings while giving up just one unearned run and striking out 11 Marlins, the last of whom was Justin Bour for the Nationals ace's 200th strikeout of the season.^{[note 22]} It was Soto's turn in the July 27 game to come a double shy of the cycle, as he homered, singled, and hit his first career triple in the contest.^{[note 23]} However, the Nationals' winning ways did not continue over the final two games of the series. Washington wasted a quality start by González on July 28, scoring just one run in the ninth inning in an extra-innings loss, and then were shut out in a two-hit effort by José Ureña and the Marlins relief corps on July 29, dropping the visitors back below .500.^[298]

With a losing record heading into the July 31 trade deadline and a disappointing split against the fourth-place Marlins, the Nationals faced widespread speculation in the media that they could become sellers. Although general manager

Carrying some momentum into a four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at home, the Nationals batted around in the second inning^{[note 25]} and rode another quality start from ace Max Scherzer to a 10–4 win on August 2.^[313] Cordero made his major league debut in the contest, allowing two runs in the ninth inning before finishing out the win.^[314] Rain postponed the second game of the series to August 4, on which it was played as a doubleheader, in which the Reds hammered struggling Nationals starter Gio González and held the Nationals to a single run to win the first game,^[315] but the Nationals struck back behind a strong effort from starter Jeremy Hellickson and a much more productive offense^{[note 26]} to win the second game.^[316] Washington completed a second straight series win by topping Cincinnati 2–1 on August 5, with Tanner Roark turning in a third straight quality start and catcher Matt Wieters homering for the first time since his return from the disabled list in early July.^[317]

Facing the division-rival

The Nationals endured their first series loss since the non-waiver trade deadline as they locked horns with the Chicago Cubs in a three-game set at Wrigley Field, the teams' first meeting since the 2017 National League Division Series. Continuing a running theme for him throughout the season, Hellickson cruised through the Cubs' lineup for the first two times through the order in the August 10 series opener, only to immediately struggle when asked to pitch to opposing batters for the third time; carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning, he lost a 13-pitch battle against Chicago leadoff hitter Anthony Rizzo, walking him, then walked the next two batters on eight straight balls before being relieved by Sammy Solís, who immediately gave up a game-tying RBI single. In the seventh inning, Solís combined with Holland to load the bases, and then Rizzo walked again to force home the go-ahead run. The Cubs held on to win 3–2.^[324] The visitors rebounded to win on August 11 behind another outstanding start by Roark, although the Cubs tacked on three runs in the eighth and ninth inning against Roark and reliever Wander Suero for a 9–4 finish.^[325] However, the series was capped with what The Washington Post described as one of the Nationals' "worst ever" losses in team history.^[326] On ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, Scherzer outdueled a strong Cole Hamels,^[327] as the Nationals enjoyed seven scoreless innings from their ace plus a scoreless eighth by Glover. With the team up by three runs entering the ninth inning, Madson was called upon to record the save. Instead, after loading the bases via an infield single bobbled by defensive substitute Wilmer Difo and two hits-by-pitch,^[328] Madson surrendered a two-out, two-strike walk-off grand slam to rookie pinch-hitter David Bote.^{[note 27]} After the game, Madson said he had been experiencing shooting pain in his back and right leg and had been unable to grip the ball well enough to throw his signature curveball, but he had not disclosed his condition to the coaching staff previously.^[329]

The trying tour of the National League Central Division continued as the Nationals dropped the first three out of four games to the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. On August 13, in the first game of the series the Nationals were again unable to hold a late lead. With the Nationals up by two runs, reliever Justin Miller gave up a home run to start the eighth inning. One out later, Solís was summoned with a runner on base to face a pinch-hitter, but he promptly gave up a single and wild pitch, then surrendered a go-ahead home run to Cardinals slugger Matt Carpenter, the league leader in home runs,^[330] with first base open. Although the Nationals mounted a ninth-inning rally to tie the game, they were unable to take the lead, stranding two runners in scoring position,^[331] before Paul DeJong led off the bottom of the ninth with a home run off Glover,^[332] handing Washington its second walk-off loss in as many games. "I don't know what else to do," Martinez admitted after the game.^[333] Before the second game of the series on August 14, the Nationals removed both Madson and Solís from their active roster, placing the former on the 10-day disabled list with what the team called "lumbar nerve root irritation" and optioning the latter to Class-AAA Syracuse. For the second time of the season, Washington selected the contract of veteran left-handed reliever Tim Collins from Syracuse, also calling up right-handed reliever Trevor Gott. Injured starting pitcher Erick Fedde was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to complete the series of roster moves.^[334] Martinez announced that, despite giving up the walk-off home run the previous night, Glover would assume closing duties for the time being,^[335] with Miller expected to fill in when Glover, still readjusting to the major leagues after a series of shoulder and back injuries, was unavailable for a game.^[336] Both Collins and Gott appeared in the August 14 game after González was unable to work into the fifth inning, the Nationals' starter notably giving up a two-run home run to opposing pitcher John Gant for the Cardinals' right-hander's first career hit; Gott gave up one run on a Kolten Wong home run in long relief and Collins threw a scoreless inning. The Cardinals stymied a late Nationals rally to win 6–4.^[337] The Nationals had injury added to insult as Hellickson was forced to exit early in his August 15 start after falling awkwardly on his wrist during a play at the plate; the Cardinals won the game 4–2,^[338] and Hellickson headed to the disabled list for the second time in the season.^[339] The Nationals salvaged one win for the series on August 16, topping the Cardinals 5–4 behind a six-inning start from Roark, a three-RBI game by Harper, and the first save of the year for Glover.^[340]

Returning home for a three-game series against the division-rival Miami Marlins, the Nationals rode a strong start by Scherzer to an easy 8–2 victory on August 17,^[341] only to end up stumbling to their first series loss at home against Miami since the 2014 season as they dropped the second two games.^[342] Washington lost on August 18 as, despite a ninth-inning Adam Eaton home run to tie the game, the Nationals were unable to plate the winning run and Glover promptly surrendered two runs to take the loss in the tenth inning;^[343] The next day, Marlins starter José Ureña hurled a complete game, giving up just one run on two hits, as Miami's offense buried Nationals starter González and long reliever Milone in the 12–1 blowout.^[344] Milone's reassignment to the bullpen was among several roster moves involving pitchers that the Nationals made during the opening series of their homestand, formally assigning Hellickson to the 10-day disabled list with a right wrist sprain on August 18, calling up Rodríguez from Syracuse to join the rotation, and swapping Gott for Cordero via optional assignment.^[345]

The Nationals made more moves on August 21. In what both local and national media widely characterized as "throwing in the towel" or "waving the white flag" after a disappointing season, Washington traded starting second baseman

The Nationals finished August with a 67–68 record on the season, posting a losing record for the third month in a row as they went 14–15. After finishing out a two-game sweep of the Mets, then winning three of four from the Reds, the Nationals split four games with the Braves, lost two of three to the Cubs and three of four to the Cardinals on the road, returned home and lost two of three to the Marlins before winning two of three against the Phillies, then dropped two of three visiting the Mets and won two of three visiting the Phillies, prior to losing their final game of August against the Brewers. They sat 7+1⁄2 games back of the division-leading Braves.[367]

With rosters expanding for the final month of the season, the Nationals made their first set of moves on September 1, recalling catcher

September 3 was a memorable day for the Nationals. Trailing into the ninth inning, center fielder Bryce Harper led the team to a dramatic comeback with a two-run home run off St. Louis Cardinals closer Bud Norris to tie the game followed by a tenth-inning sacrifice fly off his former College of Southern Nevada teammate Chasen Shreve. The Nationals walked off the visiting St. Louis ballclub 4–3, with reliever Greg Holland, whom the Nationals signed the month prior after the Cardinals released him, picking up the win with two scoreless innings of work.^[373] During the game, starter Max Scherzer passed the 250-strikeout mark for the season, moving into second place alone behind Randy Johnson for the most consecutive seasons with at least 250 strikeouts.^{[note 28]} Meanwhile, the Nationals concluded a ten-season affiliation with the Syracuse Chiefs, who shut out the visiting Buffalo Bisons behind starter Kyle McGowin^[374] in the final game of their player development contract with Washington before converting to a Class-AAA affiliate for the New York Mets in 2019.^[375] McGowin was called up for the first time on September 4, as the Nationals selected his contract. Right-handed pitchers Erick Fedde and Joe Ross were also activated from the 60-day disabled list. The Nationals summoned minor league pitcher Austin Voth, infielder Adrián Sánchez, and top outfield prospect Víctor Robles from Syracuse as well.^[376] Soto walked for the 67th time in the September 4 game to set a new record for walks by a teenager in the modern era;^{[note 29]} however, in the same game, Williams was tagged for his first earned runs, taking the loss against the Cardinals in an offense-heavy 11–8 contest as he gave up three home runs.^[377] Making his major league debut in relief the next day, McGowin also gave up a solo home run that, while McGowin did not factor in the decision, ultimately represented the Cardinals' final margin of victory in the 7–6 contest.^[378] The big blows in the September 5 game were supplied by Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams, whom the Nationals had traded to St. Louis less than a month prior. Adams hit two home runs in the game against his former teammate, starter Tanner Roark, who took the loss.^[379] The Nationals' homestand continued with a loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs on September 6. The Nationals led into the eighth inning, but Miller gave up the tying run before rookie reliever Jimmy Cordero allowed the go-ahead runs in the tenth inning to take the loss.^[380]

Following a September 7 rainout, the Nationals' fortune turned. They swept the Cubs in a double-header that started September 8 and ended in the early morning on September 9, with Scherzer throwing a complete game for the win in the first game

The Nationals rebounded from the impromptu one-game homestand by taking two out of three from the Atlanta Braves. The Braves held Scherzer to four innings and pinned a loss on the Nationals ace in his worst start of the season, in terms of both innings pitched and runs allowed, on September 14.^[389] However, the Nationals took the next two games. Soto set a new record for stolen bases in a game by a teenager with three on September 15^{[note 30]} in a game that also saw the Nationals set a new team record with 14 walks. However, the Nationals lost Jeremy Hellickson in his first appearance since coming off the disabled list days earlier as he re-injured his wrist on a swing.^[390] The Nationals took the rubber game on September 16, as Doolittle notched his first save since coming off the disabled list.^[391] Their roadtrip continuing, the Nationals dropped the first of two games against the Miami Marlins on September 17 despite an early four-run lead, although Robles hit a 427-foot blast to left field for his first career home run off Miami starter Trevor Richards.^[392] Soto's on-base streak ended at 21 games, one shy of tying the major league record for a teenager.^{[note 31]} The Nationals finished with a series split with a win on September 18.^[393]

In a difficult twelfth-inning loss to start a four-game series with the

In their first full series since elimination, and their final series of the year at home, the Nationals swept the division-rival Marlins over three games from September 24 to September 26. In the first game of the series, Harper hit a sacrifice fly to put him at 100 RBIs for the season, the first time in a professional campaign he had reached the century mark, and earned a standing ovation from his home supporters.[400] The September 25 game marked Scherzer's final start of the season, and a momentous one, as he struck out ten Marlins to reach the 300-strikeout mark for the first time in his career.^{[note 33]} Scherzer also earned his 18th win of the season in the contest.^[401] With Roark still at home in Georgia with his family, the Nationals tasked McGowin with his first career start to finish out the series. He pitched into the fifth inning, allowing just one hit and zero runs after retiring the first eleven batters he faced, before exiting with a blister on his pitching hand.^[402] The Washington bullpen finished off the 9–3 win to complete the sweep.^[403] The game was called in the seventh inning due to rain, with Harper left on deck instead of getting one last at-bat at home in the season before his anticipated free agency.^[404]

The Nationals finished off the season by flying to Denver and taking on the Colorado Rockies for a three-game series. The Rockies clinched a playoff berth as they beat Ross and the Nationals on September 28, in the series opener.^[405] The visitors rebounded in Strasburg's final start of the year the next day, winning 12–2.^[406] Soto deposited the 22nd home run of his rookie season into the right field seats to move into a tie for second place for homers by a teenager in major league history.^{[note 34]} However, the Nationals had scored their final runs of the season in the blowout victory, as Tyler Anderson pitched masterfully to lead the Rockies in a 12–0 shutout at the expense of Washington rookies Fedde, Voth, and McGowin, as well as the veteran Collins, all of whom gave up home runs en route to the loss as the motivated Colorado team earned a divisional tiebreaker with the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[407] The loss was the Nationals' most lopsided of the season.^[408]

Washington ended the season with an 82–80 record of wins and losses, their lowest win total since the

• April 5, 2018: The Nationals extended the contract of general manager
  Mike Rizzo for two years, through the end of the 2020 season.^[120]
• April 7, 2018: The Nationals designated left-handed pitcher Enny Romero for assignment.^[409]
• April 11, 2018: The Nationals designated catcher Miguel Montero for assignment^[410] and selected the contract of minor league outfielder Moisés Sierra.^[411]
• April 12, 2018: The Nationals signed infielder Mark Reynolds to a minor league contract.^[412]
• April 13, 2018: The Nationals released catcher Miguel Montero^[413] and signed catcher Tuffy Gosewisch to a minor league contract.^[414]
• April 14, 2018: The Nationals lost left-handed pitcher Enny Romero to the Pittsburgh Pirates on a waiver claim.^[415]
• April 20, 2018: The Nationals designated right-handed pitcher A. J. Cole for assignment and selected the contract of minor league pitcher Carlos Torres.^[146][416]
• April 23, 2018: The Nationals sold right-handed pitcher A. J. Cole to the New York Yankees for cash considerations.^[417]
• April 27, 2018: The Nationals signed infielder Matt Hague to a minor league contract.^[418]
• May 11, 2018: The Nationals selected the contract of minor league catcher Spencer Kieboom.^[174]
• May 12, 2018: The Nationals selected the contract of minor league first baseman Mark Reynolds.^[419]
• May 20, 2018: The Nationals designated outfielder Moisés Sierra for assignment^[420] and selected the contract of minor league outfielder Juan Soto;^[421] Sierra was outrighted to Class-AAA Syracuse.^[421]
• May 21, 2018: The Nationals selected the contract of minor league left-handed relief pitcher Tim Collins.^[421]
• May 22, 2018: The Nationals signed outfielder Jaff Decker to a minor league contract.^[421]
• May 23, 2018: The Nationals designated right-handed relief pitcher Carlos Torres for assignment^[421] and signed left-handed pitcher Josh Edgin^[421] and outfielder Adam Brent Walker to minor league contracts;^[421] Torres was outrighted to Class-AAA Syracuse.^[422]
• June 9, 2018: The Nationals released outfielder Rafael Bautista.^[423]
• June 13, 2018: The Nationals signed outfielder Rafael Bautista to a new minor league contract.^[424]
• June 18, 2018: The Nationals acquired right-handed relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera from the Kansas City Royals for infielder Kelvin Gutiérrez, minor league outfielder Blake Perkins, and minor league pitcher Yohanse Morel.^[425]
• July 4, 2018: The Nationals designated left-handed relief pitcher Tim Collins for assignment;^[426] Collins was outrighted to Class-AAA Syracuse.^[427]
• July 22, 2018: The Nationals acquired minor league pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan from the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Brian Goodwin.^[428]
• July 26, 2018: The Nationals designated first baseman José Marmolejos for assignment and selected the contract of minor league pitcher Tommy Milone;^[429] Marmolejos was outrighted to Class-AAA Syracuse.^[430]
• July 31, 2018: The Nationals acquired minor league pitcher Jhon Romero from the Chicago Cubs for right-handed relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler.^[431]
• August 1, 2018: The Nationals designated right-handed relief pitcher Shawn Kelley for assignment and selected the contract of minor league pitcher Jimmy Cordero.^[432]
• August 5, 2018: The Nationals sold right-handed relief pitcher Shawn Kelley and cash considerations to the Oakland Athletics for international slot money.^[433]
• August 14, 2018: The Nationals selected the contract of minor league pitcher Tim Collins.^[434]
• August 21, 2018: The Nationals acquired minor league infielder Andruw Monasterio and a player to be named later from the Chicago Cubs for infielder Daniel Murphy and sold first baseman Matt Adams to the St. Louis Cardinals for cash considerations.^[435]
• August 31, 2018: The Nationals acquired minor league pitcher
  KJ Harrison and minor league infielder Gilbert Lara from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-handed starting pitcher Gio González and international slot money.^[437]
• September 1, 2018: The Nationals selected the contract of minor league pitcher Austen Williams.^[438]
• September 4, 2018: The Nationals selected the contract of minor league pitcher Kyle McGowin.^[439]
• September 18, 2018: The Nationals signed a two-year player development contract with the Class-AAA Fresno Grizzlies.^[440]

• May 1, 2018: Wander Suero
• May 20, 2018: Juan Soto
• June 3, 2018: Jefry Rodríguez
• July 14, 2018: Austin Voth
• August 2, 2018: Jimmy Cordero
• September 2, 2018: Austen Williams
• September 5, 2018: Kyle McGowin

In 2018, the

In mid-September 2018, MASN pulled Ray Knight, who had served as the studio analyst on Nats Xtra since the show's beginning in 2007 season, from broadcasts after he had a verbal altercation with a staff member at MASN.^[444] He did not return to the air, and after the season concluded, MASN cut ties with him, announcing that it had not picked up his 2019 contract option.^[444] The 2018 season also was Johnny Holliday's last with MASN; the host of Nats Xtra from 2007 to 2018, he announced that he would not return to MASN in 2019 so that he could spend more time with his family.^[444]

The

Late on the evening of September 8, in the top of the eighth inning during the second game of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs, Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle, a proponent of bullpen cart use,^[449] became the first player to use the Nationals Park bullpen cart.^[450] Doolittle had made history as the first visiting player to use the Diamondbacks' bullpen cart during a game at Arizona on May 10,^[449] and Nationals players had decided that they would not use the Nationals Park cart until Doolittle returned from a lengthy stint on the disabled list and had the chance to become the first player to use it. The first visiting player to use it was New York Mets reliever Robert Gsellman in the eighth inning of a game on the evening of September 20.

The Nationals drew 2,529,604 fans at Nationals Park during 2018, their fourth-highest attendance since arriving in Washington in 2005. It placed them eighth in attendance for the season among the 15 National League teams, down from seventh in 2017 despite being an increase over their 2017 attendance total.^[451] Their highest attendance at a home game occurred on April 5, when they drew an Opening Day crowd of 42,477 for a game against the New York Mets, while the low mark was 19,357 for a game against the Atlanta Braves on April 10.^[451] Their average home attendance was 31,230 per game, fourth-highest since their arrival in Washington.^[452]

Qualifying players only.

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases

Complete offensive statistics are available here.

Note: Pos = Position; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Complete pitching statistics are available here.