Washington Nationals news & notes: Trevor Williams returns to rotation and form, Nats lose to Cubs, 3-1…

Notes and quotes from Trevor Williams’ return to the Nats’ rotation in Friday’s loss to the Cubs…

Trevor Williams started strong in the second season of his 2-year/$13M deal in D.C. earlier this year, with the 32-year-old right-hander (5-0) with a 2.22 ERA, 2.82 FIP, 16 walks, 47 Ks, a pair of home runs allowed (after he gave up an NL-high 34 in 30 starts and 144 ¹⁄₃ innings in 2023), and a .221/.272/.299 line against over 11 starts and 56 ²⁄₃ innings pitched, but a right flexor muscle strain forced him to the Injured List on June 4.

Williams made two rehab starts earlier this month before he was called back up to start for the Nationals in their matchup with the Cubs on Friday afternoon.

“He says he feels good,” manager Davey Martinez told reporters, explaining that the veteran starter’s return gave the club an opportunity to go with six pitchers down the stretch so he’s able to rest some of the young arms.

“[Williams will] get a chance to start, and we’ll get a chance to push these guys back a little bit.”

And the other benefits of Williams’ returning to pitch in the majors, considering he’s set to hit free agency again this winter?

“One, it’s his free agent year,” Martinez said.

“Two, is that he gets back on a major league mound and goes to compete after working his way back. And plus, he was so good the first couple months. We missed him.

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

“He was that veteran guy that was giving us innings, that was pitching really well.

“Unfortunately he got hurt, and now he worked his way back — to come back, and hopefully he takes off right where he left off and he has a good winter.

“The big thing was to get him healthy before the end of the season and try to get him to start a game. And he worked himself to do that.”

Williams did, in fact, pick up, or take off, right where he left off in his return to the rotation in the second of four with the Cubs in Wrigley Field, giving up three hits (one a home run) and one run over five innings in what ended up a 3-1 loss for the Nationals. But Williams piled up seven Ks, threw just 66 pitches, 46 for strikes, and, a reporter noted after the game, threw a total of 15 first-pitch strikes to 18 batters faced.

“I hope our young guys watched him pitch, I mean, really,” Martinez said.

“You could learn a lot from what he did. To get ahead of hitters like that, and get quick outs like he did, that’s what we’re looking for.”

Williams collected 13 swinging strikes (seven with his sweeper), and five called strikes in the outing.

“It was awesome to see him pitch the way he did. I mean, he threw the ball really well. It almost looked like he didn’t skip a beat, which was great. He gave us five strong innings. I watched him that fifth inning and had a conversation with him and he said exactly what I saw, he just [emptied] the tank.

“It was kind of a warm day, but man, he was really good. Proud of him.”

Williams gave up the home run to the second batter he faced, then retired 14 of 16 to get through five innings in a solid return to the rotation.

“He just got right back to who he is, right? Kept the ball down for the most part. Elevated when he needed to, but for the most part everything was down,” Martinez said.

“His slider was good, changeup was really good, his sinker was good. When he can keep the ball down in the zone like that, he’s tough to hit because he changes speeds.”

“I wish I could’ve come back sooner and helped the team out in more ways,” Williams said, as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman, after the game, thanking the training staff for their help along the way, and for their role in getting him back up to the majors.

“Everything felt good. Take away one pitch from this outing, and it’s a completely different ballgame. I’m just thankful that I’m able to be out there and give this team a chance to win.”

“My main thing with him was that he was healthy, and that he leaves here knowing that he’s healthy,” Martinez added. “He can go and start his winter program. And I know he becomes a free agent, but it’s good for other teams to see him, that he’s healthy. And, honestly, good for us to see that he’s healthy and he’s going out there and competing like he always does.”

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