Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Tough-luck loss in long relief
Rotowire
Mikolas (1-4) took the loss Wednesday, allowing two unearned runs on five hits over 3.2 relief innings as the Nationals were downed 3-2 by the Guardians. He struck out one without walking a batter.
Handling bulk-relief duties behind opener PJ Poulin, Mikolas put together one of his better performances of the season but was undone in part by a Curtis Mead error in the fifth inning. Mikolas was lifted after 60 pitches (39 strikes), and he's gone consecutive outings without being charged with an earned run. Over five appearances (two starts) in May, he's posted a 2.74 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB in 23 innings. Mikolas will look to stay on track in his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home early next week against the Marlins.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Will follow opener Wednesday
Rotowire
Mikolas is slated to follow an opener Wednesday in Cleveland, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
PJ Poulin will open the game for the Nationals before Mikolas handles the bulk of the workload. Mikolas has collected a 3.74 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in five bulk relief outings this season, as compared to an 8.28 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in six traditional starts.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Shuts out Atlanta over five innings
Rotowire
Mikolas didn't factor into the decision Friday against Atlanta, allowing just three hits and no walks with three strikeouts across five shutout innings.
It was the fifth time Mikolas has followed an opener this season and just the right-hander's second scoreless appearance, both of which have come following openers. Mikolas' Stuff+ (90) is well below average and he has a fifth percentile whiff rate (17.3 percent), but he continues to locate his pitches well with a high rate of groundballs. After a brutal start to the season, Mikolas has a 3.48 ERA across 31 innings over his last seven appearances, lowering his season ERA to 6.17 in the process. Mikolas has a 31:14 K:BB over 46.2 innings in 2026.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Will follow opener Friday
Rotowire
Mikolas will be used as the Nationals' primary pitcher for Friday's game in Atlanta, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Mikolas has fared better this season when used in bulk relief, posting a 4.86 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in that role versus an 8.28 ERA and 1.64 WHIP as a traditional starter. The veteran righty will be preceded by lefty opener Richard Lovelady.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Allows two homers in bulk relief
Rotowire
Mikolas did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Orioles, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Mikolas threw 61 of 93 pitches for strikes but coughed up four runs, three of which came via the long ball. It actually marked the longest outing of the year for the veteran, who owns a 6.91 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB across 41.2 innings this season while making six starts and working behind an opener four times. Regardless of role, his next matchup lines up as a difficult road test against Atlanta next weekend.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Handling bulk-relief role Sunday
Rotowire
Mikolas is expected to be deployed in bulk relief behind opener Richard Lovelady in Sunday's game against the Orioles, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Mikolas started his prior three appearances, but the Nationals are opting to bring him out of the bullpen for the fourth time this season Sunday. Mikolas accrued a 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB in 11 innings over his prior three bulk relief outings.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Early exit in no-decision
Rotowire
Mikolas didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the Reds, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over 3.1 innings. He struck out two.
The veteran righty got plenty of offensive support on a night when the Nationals launched six home runs, but he couldn't stick around long enough to benefit from it as Mikolas got the hook after 71 inefficient pitches (45 strikes). Injuries to other pitchers would seem to be the only thing keeping Mikolas in the rotation at this point, as he's completed five innings only twice in nine outings (six starts and three bulk relief appearances). He'll take a 7.00 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 24:13 K:BB through 36 innings into his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home this weekend against the Orioles.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Earns first win of season
Rotowire
Mikolas (1-3) earned the win Wednesday against the Twins after allowing two runs on three hits across 5.1 innings, fanning three.
Mikolas delivered his best outing of the season Wednesday, as he pitched into the sixth inning for the first time in 2026 and allowed two or fewer runs in four of his last six starts. The long balls remain an issue, however, as he's given up nine home runs across 32.2 innings. Mikolas has a long way to go before being worthy of consideration as a streaming option in most formats, but this was a step in the right direction. He's scheduled to make his next start at Cincinnati next week.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Likely primary pitcher Friday
Rotowire
Mikolas is available to serve as the primary pitcher for the Nationals in Friday's contest against the White Sox, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
PJ Poulin will be the team's opener, an assignment he's drawn in both of Mikolas' last two bulk-relief outings. Washington will likely go with the same setup Friday, though the Nationals are expected to call up right-hander Riley Cornelio from Triple-A Rochester and could have him available to cover multiple innings out of the bullpen. Mikolas is coming off his best appearance of the season, having tossed four shutout frames against the Giants.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Sharp as primary pitcher Sunday
Rotowire
Mikolas didn't factor into the decision in Sunday's win over the Giants, allowing four hits and a walk over four scoreless innings of relief. He struck out four.
The veteran right-hander worked as a bulk reliever, taking the mound after PJ Poulin recorded the first two outs for the Nationals, and Mikolas just missed collecting his first win of the season -- Washington scored all three of its runs right after he was lifted after 61 pitches (40 strikes) for Andrew Alvarez, who completed a combined shutout. Mikolas still has an ugly 9.15 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and 15:10 K:BB through 19.2 innings over five appearances (three starts) this season, but Sunday's effort was at least encouraging. Mikolas lines up for another favorable matchup, either as a starter or a primary pitcher, next weekend on the road against the White Sox.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Andrew Alvarez: Promoted Sunday
Rotowire
The Nationals recalled Alvarez from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.
The left-hander has a 4.66 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB across 19.1 frames in four starts for Rochester and will now get a look in the big-league bullpen. The Nationals are starting PJ Poulin as an opener Sunday before turning to primary pitcher Miles Mikolas, after which Alvarez could be called upon to provide some more length.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' PJ Poulin: Opening Sunday's game
Rotowire
Poulin will serve as the Nationals' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Poulin will draw his third start of the season as an opener, again working in front of Miles Mikolas. The Nationals rode the Poulin-Mikolas pairing to a win over the Pirates on Tuesday, though the two pitchers combined to allow four earned runs over 4.1 innings. Poulin is unlikely to pitch more than an inning or two Sunday before turning the game over to the veteran right-hander.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Roughed up again Tuesday
Rotowire
Mikolas didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Pirates, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks with no strikeouts across 3.1 innings.
After starting each of his first three appearances this season, Mikolas worked behind opener PJ Poulin on Tuesday. Poulin went one inning, allowing a solo home run with one strikeout before giving way to Mikolas in the bottom of the second. Mikolas worked an efficient first two innings before the wheels came off a bit in the bottom of the fourth, as he walked the first two batters before a double and groundout turned into two runs. He later gave up a solo shot to Joey Bart and was pulled after 49 pitches. Mikolas has an ugly 11.49 ERA and 11:9 K:BB across 15.2 innings. He's surrendered a league-high 20 runs and six homers. It's fair to wonder how much longer Mikolas will remain part of Washington's rotation.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Working behind opener Tuesday
Rotowire
Mikolas is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher PJ Poulin in Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
The Pirates typically roll out a starting lineup featuring two left-handed hitters (Oneil Cruz and Brandon Lowe) with OPSes north of 1.000 in the top two spots, so the Nationals will hope to neutralize them or force Pittsburgh to alter its batting order by having the left-handed Poulin begin the game. Poulin is unlikely to cover more than an inning or two before giving way to Mikolas, who should get a softer landing to begin his appearance by facing the back end of the Pittsburgh lineup. Mikolas struggled mightily through in first three starts with Washington, giving up 19 runs (17 earned) on 22 hits and seven walks over 12.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Pummeled by Dodgers
Rotowire
Mikolas (0-2) took the loss Friday as the Nationals were downed 13-6 by the Dodgers, coughing up 11 runs on 11 hits -- including four home runs -- and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out four.
The veteran right-hander held Los Angeles off the board for two innings before the dam burst, as Shohei Ohtani's first homer of the season sparked a five-run third and was the first of five long balls by the Dodgers on the afternoon. Mikolas was finally lifted after 87 pitches (56 strikes), and he's had a disastrous beginning to his Washington tenure with a 14.46 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB over two starts and 9.1 innings. Mikolas will try to turn things around his his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against his former team, the Cardinals.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Thumped by Cubs
Rotowire
Mikolas (0-1) took the loss Saturday, coughing up six runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks over five innings in a 10-2 loss to the Cubs. He struck out four.
The veteran right-hander was brought in to soak up innings for a rebuilding Nationals rotation, so he took his lumps over 97 pitches (57 strikes) even after Chicago posted a four-spot in the second inning. Mikolas didn't have an ERA lower than 4.78 in any of the last three seasons while pitching for St. Louis, and that doesn't look like it'll change with Washington. Things won't get any easier for Mikolas in his next scheduled start, which is expected to come at home next weekend against the Dodgers.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Roughed up by former club
Rotowire
Mikolas gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks over 4.2 innings during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out one.
Facing the team he spent the last seven seasons with, Mikolas tossed only 46 of 83 pitches for strikes and served up a three-run, first-inning homer to Nelson Velazquez. The veteran right-hander hasn't shown much this spring, posting a 6.52 ERA and 6:7 K:BB through 9.2 innings, but the rebuilding Nationals are just counting on Mikolas to soak up some innings while they wait for prospects like Travis Sykora (elbow) and Jarlin Susana (lat) to get healthy and start making a case for spots in the big-league rotation. Mikolas has made more than 30 big-league starts in four straight seasons, but his 4.51 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 6.3 K/9 during that time don't offer much fantasy appeal.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Miles Mikolas: Allows three homers in loss
Rotowire
Mikolas (8-11) took the loss against the Cubs on Friday, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts over five innings.
All four runs against Mikolas came via the long ball, leaving him with a career-high 29 homers allowed on the season. The 37-year-old saw a streak of five straight outings allowing two earned runs or fewer come to an end in what may have been his final appearance in a Cardinals uniform. He'll head into free agency after finishing the 2025 campaign with a 4.84 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 100:37 K:BB across 156.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Miles Mikolas: Fades in no-decision
Rotowire
Mikolas did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over five-plus innings against Seattle. He struck out two.
The veteran starter held Seattle scoreless through five innings before running into trouble in the sixth frame, allowing two baserunners without recording an out before Gordon Graceffo came on and let both inherited runners -- plus two more -- cross the plate. While the season has been underwhelming overall for Mikolas, he's pieced together a solid stretch lately, logging a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over 16 innings across his three most recent starts.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Miles Mikolas: Holds Athletics in check in win
Rotowire
Mikolas (7-10) earned the win Tuesday against the Athletics, allowing one run on five hits and one walk with no strikeouts in six innings.
Despite the season-low zero strikeouts, it was still one of Mikolas' finer performances of the year. It was his eighth quality start in 2025, and it also marked his ninth time surrendering one earned run or zero this season. Mikolas will be trying to build on Tuesday's performance when he takes a 4.89 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 86:33 K:BB over 136.1 innings into his next outing, which is slated for next week against the Mariners at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park.
