Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Ineffective as bulk reliever
Rotowire
Mikolas allowed three runs on six hits and no walks while striking out one batter over 3.2 relief innings in a no-decision against Colorado on Tuesday.
Mikolas inherited a 4-2 deficit when he entered with two outs and a runner on first base in the second inning. The right-hander got out of that frame without allowing the inherited runner to cross the plate, but Washington scored in three of the remaining four innings in which he appeared. Mikolas has been better this season as a bulk reliever than as a traditional starter, but his overall 5.60 ERA and 4.7 K/9 make him an unappealing fantasy asset in all but the deepest of leagues. He's projected to make his next appearance -- either as a starter or in bulk relief -- at home versus Toronto.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Following opener Tuesday
Rotowire
Mikolas will be deployed as a bulk reliever in Tuesday's game versus the Rockies, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Back in action after serving a five-game suspension, Mikolas will make his 13th appearance of the season out of the bullpen while pitching behind opener Carson Palmquist. Mikolas went four scoreless innings in bulk relief his last time out against the Yankees on July 11 and has fared much better this season in that role (3.51 ERA) than he has as a traditional starter (8.53 ERA).
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Suspension going into effect Sunday
Rotowire
Major League Baseball announced that Mikolas will begin serving his five-game suspension Sunday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
The suspension stemmed from his role during a bench-clearing brawl with the Red Sox on July 2. Mikolas initially appealed his suspension, but after teammate Cade Cavalli completed a five-game ban of his own, the veteran right-hander is now required to begin serving his time. Mikolas will be available to return to action July 21 against the Rockies, the Nationals' fifth game out of the All-Star break. Mikolas heads into the break with a 5.78 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 50:19 K:BB across 90.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Allows seven runs in third win
Rotowire
Mikolas (3-7) earned the win Monday, allowing seven runs on nine hits and two walks over six innings against the Astros. He struck out three.
Mikolas was roughed up early, allowing six runs across the first three innings, but managed to churn out six frames and was credited with the win thanks to an offensive explosion from the Nationals. It has been a difficult season for the veteran, who has occasionally been able to provide length but has too often been hit hard by opposing offenses. The right-hander owns a 5.78 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 50:19 K:BB across 90.1 innings (19 appearances). Mikolas is awaiting a decision on his appeal of a five-game suspension stemming from Tuesday's benches-clearing incident, which may factor into whether he makes another start before the All-Star break.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Tagged with five-game suspension
Rotowire
Mikolas has received a five-game suspension Thursday for his actions during the benches-clearing incident Tuesday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
The benches clearing incident in Sunday's game versus the Nationals got sparked after Cade Cavalli struck out Willson Contreras. On the Nationals' side, Cavalli also received a suspension, but for seven games instead of five. On the Red Sox, Contreras got a seven-game suspension and Nate Eaton received a three-game suspension. Mikolas can appeal the suspension, but as of Thursday he will miss an expected start and not be able to return until July 8.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Lasts seven frames in seventh loss
Rotowire
Mikolas (2-7) took the loss Monday, allowing six runs on nine hits and no walks over seven innings in a 6-3 loss to the Red Sox. He struck out three.
Mikolas was ambushed early, allowing four runs on two homers in just the first frame before giving up another run in both the second and third innings. Despite his poor showing early on, the Nationals stuck with the right-hander to eat innings and he managed to dig in and complete seven frames on 97 pitches (68 strikes). The 37-year-old has had only brief moments of success while largely struggling throughout the 2026 campaign. Mikolas will take a 5.44 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 47:17 K:BB across 84.1 innings (18 appearances) into his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Sunday against the Pirates.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Bulk-relief outing awaits Wednesday
Rotowire
Mikolas is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Carson Palmquist during Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
The Nationals will likely let the left-handed Palmquist cover the first inning or two, sparing the right-handed Mikolas from at least one matchup with left-handed hitters Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber (back), both of whom typically occupy top-three spots in the order. Working as a bulk reliever for his turns through the rotation is nothing new for Mikolas, who has started in just six of his 16 appearances so far this season. As a reliever, Mikolas has turned in a 4.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 8.8 K-BB% over 49 innings, with all of those ratios being markedly better than what he's provided as a starter.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Saddled with loss in bulk role
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Handling bulk-relief role
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Solid in bulk relief Monday
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Gives up three homers in loss
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Likely following opener
Rotowire
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.
... 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: 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' 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' 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.
