After enduring Tommy John surgery and the subsequent monotonous rehab, Cade Cavalli said he wants to help make the Washington Nationals winners again.
On the same day he signed a four-year, $47 million contract extension, Cavalli dominated for five scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals and reached 200 strikeouts for the season in Washington’s 9-1 victory on Friday.
It’s safe to say anyone on the Nationals (72-82) will have a hard time topping those achievements when the series continues Saturday night in St. Louis. But Cavalli said the Nationals have been playing for each other all season.
“We’re trying to finish on a really strong note,” Cavalli said. “It’s a really special opportunity to be in the big leagues every day, and you’ve got to treat it that way.”
Cavalli, 28, continued his amazing first full season in the majors after making just one appearance with the Nats in 2022 before needing surgery. He allowed four hits and fanned six, giving him exactly 200 strikeouts in 32 starts. His last pitch was a changeup that fooled rookie JJ Wetherholt into watching it go by for strike three.
“When I was going through Tommy John after touching the big leagues for one game, I felt it in my heart and soul that I wanted to get back here and compete and be one of the best in the game,” Cavalli said. “I truly believed in myself and the people around me really believed. I didn’t get here by myself.
“It really settles in your heart that it’s a special day.”
Cavalli’s extension buys out his three remaining arbitration years as well as his first year of free agency. The base value could become $70 million if a team option for 2031 is exercised.
The Nationals won the World Series in 2019, drafted Cavalli 22nd overall a year later, and have changed just about everything else since. The Juan Soto trade helped to replenish the organization, and under new manager Blake Butera this season, the team has shown signs of being competitive again.
“We’re doing it as a group,” Cavalli said. “We’ve got a good culture that we’ve already established, so there’s no overhaul that needs to happen.”
Left-hander Andrew Alvarez (2-6, 3.35 ERA) is scheduled to make his 16th start of the season on Saturday. He tossed seven shutout innings in his previous appearance against the Los Angeles Angels a week ago and has posted a 2.44 ERA in eight starts since Aug. 3.
Alvarez has yet to face the Cardinals in his career.
The Cardinals (75-79) were eliminated from wild-card contention with their third straight loss in the opener and are trying to avoid finishing under .500 for the third time in four seasons. But manager Oliver Marmol sees reasons for hope.
“Our guys committed to a certain style of play that they held each other accountable to every day,” Marmol said. “They lived up to it really, really well.”
Right-hander Michael McGreevy (7-9, 3.83) is scheduled to start Saturday’s game. He has won three straight decisions and beat the Nationals in his lone career encounter in April, allowing a run and four hits over six innings.
–Field Level Media
