The Washington Nationals are witnessing a breakout moment from 25-year-old Brad Lord Washington Nationals starter, who is emerging as a key figure in the team’s pitching rotation. After primarily serving as a reliever this season, Lord has earned consistent starting opportunities following recent trades, and his performance against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday helped secure a crucial victory for the Nationals.
Brad Lord’s Rise to a Regular Starting Role
Brad Lord began his Major League journey this year mainly coming out of the bullpen. However, the Nationals have shifted him into the starting rotation as they look to boost their pitching depth after trading away some starters at the deadline. Thursday’s outing against the Phillies showcased Lord’s growing importance, as he pitched six innings, giving up seven hits but limiting damage to just two earned runs, while striking out three batters.
Lord’s transition to starting has been marked by steadily improving results. In his recent starts against the Phillies and the San Francisco Giants, he has demonstrated notable poise and consistency. Against the Giants, Lord earned a win by striking out five, walking two, and allowing only one earned run over six innings, helping the Nationals bounce back after a shutout loss in the series opener.
Performance Highlights from Brad Lord’s Rookie Season
While Lord did take a loss in his August 3 start against the Milwaukee Brewers—the top team in the league—he still put forth a strong individual effort, pitching 4.2 innings with six strikeouts and two walks. Over the course of the 2024 season, Lord has appeared in 40 games, including 11 starts, and has posted a 3.26 ERA. His recent streak has been especially promising, with a 2.45 ERA over his last seven outings, five of which were starts.
In his last 29 innings, Lord has recorded 19 strikeouts against six walks, underpinning his reliability as a starter moving forward. This improvement comes at a critical time for Washington, as the team has been riding a wave of success and now sits with four wins in their last six games.
Washington Nationals Building Momentum in the Season
The Nationals’ win over the Phillies on Thursday marked the first of a four-game series and served as a statement of the team’s renewed competitiveness. Brad Lord’s confident pitching contributed significantly to this victory and signals that the Nationals may continue to strengthen their rotation as they approach the final stretch of the season.
As they build on this positive momentum, the Nationals and Lord will aim to maintain their upward trajectory, with Lord’s emergence as a dependable starter adding much-needed stability to the pitching staff.