Nationals Select Andrew Alvarez for MLB Debut Monday

The Washington Nationals will promote left-handed pitcher Andrew Alvarez from Triple-A Rochester to make his MLB debut against the Miami Marlins, filling the rotation spot left by injured starter MacKenzie Gore. Interim manager Miguel Cairo praised Alvarez for his consistency, strike-throwing ability, and competitive approach, highlighting his strong recent performance with a 2.96 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 24 1/3 innings in August. Alvarez, a 26-year-old drafted from Cal Poly in 2021, has spent five seasons in the minors with a 3.84 ERA overall and was the Nationals' Pitcher of the Year in 2023. This move requires selecting Alvarez's contract and corresponding roster adjustments, as he is not yet on the 40-man roster. Despite not being a top prospect, Alvarez has shown steady improvement, especially after the All-Star break, and is expected to remain in the Nationals' rotation for multiple starts. The Nationals hope Alvarez can bring stability to a rotation impacted by Gore's shoulder injury.