My thoughts on the Washington Nationals shutting down Cade Cavalli

The Washington Nationals have decided to shut down starting pitcher Cade Cavalli for the remainder of the 2026 season, skipping his final scheduled start. The decision comes as the club chooses to exercise caution regarding Cavalli's workload and injury history, concluding his first full Major League Baseball campaign.

Cavalli completed the year with a 13-5 record, a 3.02 ERA, and a career-high 169.2 innings pitched. In his final appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals, Cavalli recorded his 200th strikeout of the season, becoming the first Nationals pitcher to achieve the milestone since 2019.