Lovelady earned the save in Saturday's 2-0 win over Atlanta, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
After opening Friday's contest, Lovelady got the call with a two-run lead in the ninth inning Saturday and slammed the door on 11 pitches. Clayton Beeter pitched each of the previous two nights after returning from injury while Gus Varland threw 12 pitches Friday, so Lovelady drew the assignment against two lefties and the switch-hitting Ozzie Albies. The versatile southpaw is now 4-for-4 in save chances with a 2.38 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB across 22.2 frames, while also recording three holds and opening three games.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Richard Lovelady: Serving as opener Friday
Rotowire
Lovelady will serve as the Nationals' opener in Friday's game versus Atlanta, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Lovelady has been used in a variety of roles by the Nats this season -- this will be his third opener assignment, but he has also collected three saves. The lefty will likely pitch just one inning before handing things off to Miles Mikolas, who is set to handle the bulk of the workload Friday.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Richard Lovelady: Working as opener Sunday
Rotowire
Lovelady will serve as the Nationals' opening pitcher in Sunday's game against the Orioles, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Lovelady hasn't recorded more than six outs in any of his 17 appearances this season, so he'll handle a limited workload ahead of expected bulk reliever Miles Mikolas. Since the Nationals acquired him from the Mets on April 16, Lovelady has emerged as one of the club's more trusted bullpen arms. He's gathered two saves and three holds with an 0.82 ERA over 11 appearances with Washington, but a bloated 19.2 percent walk rate and 95.2 percent strand rate suggest that he's benefited from plenty of good fortune.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Richard Lovelady: Nabs rare save Sunday
Rotowire
Lovelady notched a save Sunday against the Brewers, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
Lovelady was brought in for matchup-related reasons Sunday in his first save opportunity of the year. The southpaw faced a pair of left-handed hitters in Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell, retiring Mitchell before striking out Brandon Lockridge for the final out. Since coming over from the Mets via trade, Lovelady has a 1.29 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 7:5 K:BB over seven innings for Washington.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Richard Lovelady: Traded to Nationals
Rotowire
The Nationals acquired Lovelady from the Mets on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations.
Lovelady has gone back and forth between the two organizations multiple times since January. The southpaw holds a 3.68 ERA and 6:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings this season. He does not have minor-league options remaining, so Lovelady will go directly onto the Nationals' active roster.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Richard Lovelady: Catches on with NYM
Rotowire
The Mets claimed Lovelady off waivers from the Nationals on Saturday.
Lovelady was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Tuesday, and the 30-year-old southpaw will call New York home once again after being claimed by the Mets. The move corresponds with the Mets placing Justin Hagenman (ribs) on the 60-day injured list, and Lovelady would seem to have a path to making the team's Opening Day roster as a member of the bullpen since he's out of minor-league options. Lovelady appeared in 10 regular-season games between the Mets and Blue Jays in 2025, posting an 8.49 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 11.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Richard Lovelady: DFA'd by Washington
Rotowire
The Nationals designated Lovelady for assignment Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
The left-hander was claimed off waivers by the Nationals in January but will lose his place on the 40-man roster to make room for the signing of Zack Littell. Lovelady appeared in 10 regular-season games between the Blue Jays and Mets last season, allowing 11 earned runs with a 12:6 K:BB over 11.2 frames.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Richard Lovelady: Claimed by Nationals
Rotowire
The Nationals claimed Lovelady off waivers from the Mets on Thursday.
Lovelady struggled to find his footing in the majors in 2025, finishing the year with an 8.49 ERA and 1.54 WHIP through 11.2 innings. Triple-A was a different story, however, as he logged a 1.66 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 38 frames. He'll compete for a spot in Washington's Opening Day bullpen during spring training.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Richard Lovelady: Back with Mets
Rotowire
Lovelady signed a one-year, major-league contract with the Mets on Thursday.
After electing free agency shortly after the end of the regular season, Lovelady will officially reunite with the club that he ended the year with. The 30-year-old coughed up 11 earned runs over 11.2 innings in the majors this year but was much more effective in the minors, logging a 1.66 ERA and 1.05 WHIP through 38 frames. He'll presumably be in the running for a spot in New York's Opening Day bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Richard Lovelady: Chooses free agency
Rotowire
Lovelady elected free agency Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Lovelady joins the open market after his outright assignment Saturday. The 30-year-old had an 8.49 ERA in 11.2 big-league innings this season, the second-worst mark of his career behind his 9.00 ERA in 2020.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Richard Lovelady: Dropped from 40-man
Rotowire
The Mets designated Lovelady for assignment Thursday.
Lovelady gave two runs (one earned) over 3.1 innings after being promoted from Triple-A on Saturday, and he'll now lose his place on the 28-man and 40-man rosters to make room for the arrival of Kevin Herget from Syracuse. Lovelady is likely to pass through waivers unclaimed after posting an 8.49 ERA in the majors this season.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Richard Lovelady: Joins active roster
Rotowire
The Mets selected Lovelady's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday.
Lovelady has coughed up 10 earned runs in just 8.1 major-league innings this year. However, he owns a 2.08 ERA and 1.04 WHIP through 17.1 innings in the minors since being outrighted to Syracuse in late July. His recent performance will buy him another shot in Queens to finish the regular season, replacing Wander Suero.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Richard Lovelady: Clears waivers
Rotowire
The Mets outrighted Lovelady to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.
Lovelady will have the ability to refuse the outright assignment and elect free agency, but for now, he appears poised to stick around in the Mets organization as relief depth at Syracuse after he cleared waivers. Across two stints in the big leagues with New York this season, the veteran lefty surrendered six earned runs on eight hits and three walks over 6.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Richard Lovelady: Re-signs with Mets
Rotowire
The Mets signed Lovelady to a one-year, major-league contract Sunday.
The left-hander elected free agency Friday after being designated for assignment by New York, but he quickly re-signed with the organization. Lovelady gave up two runs over 1.2 innings during his lone appearance with the Mets and also surrendered four runs across 1.2 frames during a stint with the Blue Jays at the start of the season. The Mets designated left-hander Colin Poche for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for Lovelady.
... See More... See Less
Richard Lovelady: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Lovelady elected free agency Friday.
Lovelady was designated for assignment Wednesday and rejected an outright assignment to Triple-A Syracuse. The 29-year-old lefty appeared in just one game for the Mets, allowing two earned runs on one hit and two walks while striking out one across 1.2 innings of work in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to Atlanta.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Richard Lovelady: Scrubbed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Mets designated Lovelady for assignment Wednesday.
Lovelady was just signed Monday and made one appearance for the Mets, allowing two runs over 1.2 innings. If he clears waivers, Lovelady will have the ability to elect free agency.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Richard Lovelady: Joining Mets on MLB deal
Rotowire
The Mets signed Lovelady to a one-year contract Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Lovelady opted out of his minor-league contract with the Twins last week and now joins the Mets' big-league roster. The lefty reliever allowed four runs over 1.2 innings earlier this season with the Blue Jays but collected a 1.31 ERA and 22:7 K:BB over 20.2 innings with Triple-A St. Paul.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Richard Lovelady: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Blue Jays selected Lovelady's contract from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Manager John Schneider said Monday that Lovelady is still competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster, but the Blue Jays elected to go ahead and add him to their 40-man roster now, likely due to an opt-out in the reliever's minor-league contract. Lovelady does not have minor-league options left, so he would need to go through waivers first if the club wanted to send him to Buffalo. The southpaw has allowed five runs (four earned) with an 8:3 K:BB in seven innings this spring.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Richard Lovelady: Inks NRI contract with Toronto
Rotowire
The Blue Jays signed Lovelady to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Lovelady posted a 4.46 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 34.1 innings between the Cubs and Rays in 2024. The left-handed reliever has limited lefty hitters to a .232/.312/.342 batting line in his career and will compete for a spot in the Blue Jays' bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Richard Lovelady: Non-tendered by Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Rays non-tendered Lovelady on Friday.
Lovelady was designated for assignment by the Rays on Tuesday, and he'll now officially enter free agency and look to sign with a team in need of a southpaw out of the bullpen. Across 35 major-league appearances between the Cubs and Rays in 2024, Lovelady posted a 4.46 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 34.1 innings.
