Nationals Need Cade Cavalli to Unlock Potential

Young righty has struggled with command, raising concerns about his future as a starter

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:05pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's delivery broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in navy, green, and orange, conveying the fractured nature of the pitcher's struggles with control.Cade Cavalli's inconsistent command has the Nationals searching for answers in their starting rotation.West Palm Beach Today

Cade Cavalli, the Washington Nationals' top pitching prospect, has gotten off to a rocky start this season after a dominant spring. The 27-year-old right-hander has struggled with his command, walking too many batters and failing to pitch deep into games. The Nationals were counting on Cavalli to anchor their rotation, but his early-season struggles have put the team's pitching staff in a precarious position.

Why it matters

The Nationals are relying on Cavalli to be a key part of their rotation this season, but his early struggles have raised concerns about his ability to consistently pitch at the major league level. If Cavalli can't figure things out, the Nationals' pitching staff could be in serious trouble, as they lack high-end talent beyond the young righty.

The details

Cavalli was rewarded with an Opening Day start after a dominant spring training, but things have not gone according to plan. In his most recent outing against the Pirates, Cavalli was unable to get out of the second inning, walking three batters and struggling to locate his pitches. This is a concerning trend, as Cavalli has walked 6.89 batters per 9 innings so far this season, a rate that is simply unsustainable for a starting pitcher.

  • Cavalli was named the Nationals' Opening Day starter after a strong spring training.
  • In his most recent start against the Pirates, Cavalli was unable to get out of the second inning.

The players

Cade Cavalli

The Nationals' top pitching prospect, a 27-year-old right-hander with a mid-to-upper 90s fastball, a wipeout curveball, and an underrated changeup. The Nationals were counting on Cavalli to anchor their rotation this season.

Nick Yorke

A Pirates hitter who Cavalli struck out with a nasty sinker in the first inning of his most recent start.

Konnor Griffin

A Pirates hitter who Cavalli walked on four pitches in the second inning of his most recent start, leading to his early exit.

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What they’re saying

“Seeing a pitcher of Cavalli's talent level just drowning out there was frustrating to watch. The Nats are relying on Cavalli to be good. If he is not good, this staff is in real trouble.”

— Sam Sallick, Author

What’s next

The Nationals will need to closely monitor Cavalli's progress and development. If he continues to struggle with his command, they may need to consider moving him to the bullpen, where his stuff could play up and his command issues may be less problematic.

The takeaway

Cade Cavalli has the raw stuff to be a frontline starter in the major leagues, but he has yet to consistently harness his command and control. The Nationals are counting on him to anchor their rotation, and his early-season struggles have put the team's pitching staff in a precarious position. Cavalli needs to figure things out quickly, or the Nationals may have to consider alternative options for their rotation.