Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Saddled with loss in bulk role
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Mikolas (2-6) took the loss Friday as the Nationals were downed 5-2 by the Rays, giving up five runs on nine hits and a walk over six innings of relief. He struck out two.
A three-run homer by Jonathan Aranda in the third inning and a solo shot by Jonny DeLuca in the eighth bookended Mikolas' night as the bulk reliever and accounted for most of the damage off the right-hander. It's the second time in four June outings that he's been tagged for five or more runs, but Mikolas blanked the opposition over 11.2 innings in his other two appearances this month. The volatile veteran will take a 5.47 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 43:17 K:BB and 1.95 HR/9 through 74 innings into his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next week against the Phillies.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Moved up to pitch Friday
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Manager Blake Butera said Mikolas is scheduled to pitch behind opener PJ Poulin against the Rays on Friday, Andrew Golden of TheBanner.com reports.
Mikolas was initially penciled in to pitch Saturday, but he'll be moved up to Friday after Cade Cavalli (illness) was scratched. Mikolas has fared much better when working in bulk relief this season, as he has a 3.56 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB across 43 innings out of the bullpen.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Faring better in bulk relief
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Mikolas (2-5) notched the win Sunday against the Mariners, allowing no runs on three hits and no walks in seven innings of relief. He struck out three.
After beginning the season in the rotation, Mikolas has been far more effective behind an opener in 2026. The 37-year-old right-hander has an 8.28 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 19:1 K:BB over 25 frames as a starter, but he sports a 3.56 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB across 43 innings as a bulk reliever. Given his stark splits depending on how he's deployed, the Nationals figure to continue using Mikolas behind an opener during his next scheduled outing in Tampa Bay.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Handling bulk-relief role
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Mikolas is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opener PJ Poulin in Sunday's game against the Mariners, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.
Mikolas will be making his sixth straight appearance as a bulk reliever, this time working behind Poulin after lefty Richard Lovelady served as the Nationals' opener in Mikolas' previous turn through the rotation. The veteran right-hander has gone 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB in 25 innings over his last five outings.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Solid in bulk relief Monday
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Mikolas allowed three hits and no walks while striking out two over 4.2 scoreless innings of bulk relief Monday against the Giants.
Entering in the second inning following opener Richard Lovelady, Mikolas didn't miss many bats but kept the Giants' offense off the board before exiting after 54 pitches (41 strikes). It was a nice rebound outing after he surrendered six runs across six frames in his previous start against the Marlins, though the right-hander's season numbers remain quite poor. Mikolas will take a 1-5 record with a 5.90 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 61 innings (14 appearances) into his next outing, which is tentatively scheduled for Sunday against the Mariners.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Following opener Monday
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Mikolas will not start Monday against the Giants but will follow opener Richard Lovelady, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Mikolas has followed an opener in each of his last four outings. That trend will continue Monday, with the southpaw Lovelady set to toss one or two innings before handing the keys over to Mikolas. The latter is looking to rebound from his last appearance against the Marlins this past Tuesday, when he allowed six runs on six hits (including three home runs) and two walks while striking out four across six innings. Mikolas has a 6.39 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 36:16 K:BB across 56.1 innings this season.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Gives up three homers in loss
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Mikolas (1-5) took the loss against the Marlins on Tuesday, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four across six innings.
Richard Lovelady served as the Nationals' opener in Tuesday's game, tossing two scoreless innings before turning the keys to Mikolas in the third. Mikolas also kept Miami off the board over his first two frames but unravelled in the fifth, when he gave up four runs on three straight homers. He pitched into the ninth inning with the Nationals down 4-3 but was tagged for two more runs in the inning, and his six earned runs were his most in a game since April 3 against the Dodgers (11). Mikolas sits at a 6.39 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 36:16 K:BB across 56.1 innings this season. His next start is lined up for next week on the road against the Giants.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Likely following opener
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Mikolas is not starting Tuesday against the Marlins but is likely to follow opener Richard Lovelady, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
It'll be the seventh bulk-relief appearance of the season for Mikolas, who has a 3.91 ERA and 1.18 WHIP when working behind an opener this year compared to an 8.28 ERA as a tradition starter (six games). Even with the improved results, Mikolas doesn't have much fantasy appeal with a 13:4 K:BB across 25.1 innings when working in bulk relief.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Will follow opener Wednesday
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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.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Shuts out Atlanta over five innings
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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.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Will follow opener Friday
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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.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Allows two homers in bulk relief
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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.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Handling bulk-relief role Sunday
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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.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Early exit in no-decision
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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.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Earns first win of season
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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.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Likely primary pitcher Friday
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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.
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Nationals' Andrew Alvarez: Promoted Sunday
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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.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Roughed up again Tuesday
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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.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Working behind opener Tuesday
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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.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Pummeled by Dodgers
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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.
