KYLE FINNEGAN NEWS

In a shifting Nats bullpen, Kyle Finnegan has remained the constant As the Nationals bullpen has been wracked with inconsistency and injuries, veteran Kyle Finnegan has put forth the best season of his career...

AUGUST 6, 2023 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Earns 16th save Finnegan picked up the save Friday against the Reds. He struck out two in a perfect 10th inning.

Impact After the Nationals took the lead against Alexis Diaz in the top of the 10th, Finnegan closed the door. He fired 13 of his 15 pitches for strikes. Finnegan lost the closer job to Hunter Harvey earlier this season, but Harvey is now on the injured list with an elbow injury and the Nationals have made it clear that they will be cautious with the oft-injured hurler. Finnegan, for his part, has looked a lot more worthy of save chances of late, allowing just two hits over his last eight appearances (all scoreless).

AUGUST 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Lane Thomas, Kyle Finnegan stick around as Nats stand pat at deadline Monday's trade of Jeimer Candelario to the Cubs was the Nationals' lone transaction — other than picking up a reliever off waivers Tuesday.

AUGUST 2, 2023 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Slams door for 15th save Finnegan struck out one batter in a perfect inning and earned a save over the Brewers on Monday.

Impact Finnegan tossed 11 of 15 pitches for strikes and had no issue finishing off the 5-3 win Monday. He's allowed just two hits during his 5.2-inning scoreless streak. While he's converted just 15 of his 22 save chances this season, Finnegan's season ERA sits at a solid 3.00 with a 43:14 K:BB through 45 innings.

AUGUST 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nails down 14th save Finnegan gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his 14th save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Rockies.

Impact The right-hander has gone 3-for-3 in converting save chances since Hunter Harvey (elbow) landed on the injured list. Finnegan's 3.16 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 41:14 K:BB through 42.2 innings on the season aren't elite, but he could still be of interest to a contender looking for set-up help as the trade deadline approaches.

JULY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches save Friday Finnegan worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn a save Friday versus the Giants.

Impact Finnegan needed only nine pitches to retire Michael Conforto, Mike Yastrzemski and Patrick Bailey in 1-2-3 fashion and ice a 5-3 victory for the Nationals. It was his 13th save of the year and he lowered his season ERA to 3.24 in the process. Finnegan is under team control through 2025, but he's likely to be a hot name on the trade market as the Aug. 1 deadline approaches.

JULY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Snatches save sans Harvey Finnegan earned a save against the Cubs on Monday, allowing one hit and striking out three batters over 1.1 scoreless innings.

Impact With Hunter Harvey (elbow) moved to the injured list Monday, Finnegan was given the opportunity to move back into a closer role. He was called upon to put out a fire with two on and two out and the Nationals up two runs in the bottom of the eighth and retired Mike Tauchman on a lineout to center field, then struck out three straight batters following a leadoff walk in the ninth to finish off the Washington win. Harvey may be out for a while, so Finnegan should have an opportunity to reestablish himself as the team's primary closer for at least a few weeks. He's been up-and-down as a high-leverage reliever this season, recording a respectable 3.32 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 40:14 K:BB over 40.2 innings but blowing seven saves in 19 chances.

JULY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

How are MLB’s slowest pitchers handling the pitch clock?

Of the 10 pitchers who took the most time between pitches last year, only one has committed at least four timer infractions. But nearly all...

JUNE 14, 2023

Blows fifth save Finnegan (3-3) blew the save and took the loss Friday as the Nationals fell 3-2 to Atlanta, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits in the eighth inning.

Impact With Washington nursing a 2-1 lead, Finnegan got the call against the heart of the Atlanta order and gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, eventually watching both runners come around to score. While Hunter Harvey was likely being held back for the ninth, Finnegan still appears to be manager Dave Martinez's first choice in higher-leverage spots between the two late-inning options. That arrangement may not last much longer, however -- Finnegan has blown saves in three straight appearances, and his 4.74 ERA and 1.62 WHIP on the season are a far cry from Harvey's 3.33 and 1.00 marks.

JUNE 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Secures 11th save Finnegan picked up the save in Saturday's 4-2 win over Kansas City, allowing one hit over a scoreless ninth inning. He recorded two strikeouts and didn't issue a walk.

Impact After allowing a one-out single to Nicky Lopez, Finnegan struck out Nick Pratto and Vinnie Pasquantino to end the game. The right-hander is now 11-for-13 in save opportunities this season and appears to have separated himself from Hunter Harvey, who's just 2-for-6 as a closer. Across 11 May appearances, Finnegan has six saves while sporting a 1.64 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB, but his overall ERA (4.29) is still marred but a five-run outing versus Tampa Bay on April 4.

MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Locks down save No. 10 Finnegan struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 10th save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Padres.

Impact The right-hander's numbers on the season remain ugly, but Finnegan has been fairly reliable since a bumpy beginning to 2023. He's been scored upon in only three of his last 17 appearances, posting a 1.62 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB through 16.2 innings over that stretch while converting nine of 10 save chances.

MAY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches ninth save Finnegan struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his ninth save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Tigers.

Impact The right-hander fired eight of 10 pitches for strikes as he breezed through the final frame. Finnegan has a rough start to the season, but since getting stung for eight runs in his first three appearances, the 31-year-old has posted a 1.93 ERA and 15:6 K:BB over his last 14 innings -- albeit with a 1.50 WHIP that suggests he's been more lucky than good.

MAY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Can't nail down save Finnegan (1-2) took the loss and blew the save against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks over one-third of an inning.

Impact Washington mounted an impressive ninth-inning comeback Saturday, scoring five runs in the top of the frame to take a 7-6 lead. However, Finnegan couldn't close the door on Arizona, serving up a leadoff homer to Lourdes Gurriel and retiring just one batter before the winning run crossed the plate. Finnegan's problems were largely due to his lack of control -- he threw just eight of 17 pitches for strikes and walked three batters (one intentionally), with the final blow being a walkoff free pass issued to Pavin Smith. The outing lifted Finnegan's season ERA to an ugly 6.75, though he likely has some cushion as the team's closer since he has converted seven of nine opportunities on the campaign. The right-hander has had two bad blow-ups this season (including Saturday's), but in his other 13 appearances he's posted a 2.13 ERA over 12.2 frames.

MAY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up first win Finnegan (1-1) earned the win Thursday against the Cubs after he allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out two.

Impact Finnegan entered for the top of the ninth inning with the game tied 3-3 and gave up a walk and a double to Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, respectively, to start the frame, but the righty retired the next three batters to preserve the tie. Alex Call then led off the bottom of the frame with a walkoff home run. Finnegan pitched each of the past three days -- notching two saves in addition to Thursday's win -- so he may not be available for Friday's series opener against the Diamondbacks. Carl Edwards and Mason Thompson are likely the next men up should a save chance arise Friday, since Hunter Harvey also pitched the past three days.

MAY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Secures seventh save Finnegan picked up the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Cubs, tossing a scoreless ninth in which he gave up two hits, zero walks and didn't record a strikeout.

Impact Finnegan allowed back-to-back singles to lead off the ninth, but he was able to secure his seventh save after inducing a double-play. It was the second night in a row the right-hander was called upon to shut down the Cubs, and he's now converted six consecutive chances after giving up five runs versus Tampa Bay on April 4. Overall the numbers still don't look pretty (6.00 ERA and 1.58 WHIP), but Finnegan has allowed just one run over his past 10 outings (9.2 innings) and holds a 10:2 K:BB during that stretch.

MAY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Collects sixth save Finnegan gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Cubs.

Impact The right-hander got rocked early this season, but he's settled down since. Finnegan has converted five straight save chances and been scored upon only once in his last nine appearances, posting a 1.04 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB through 8.2 innings over that stretch. His numbers on the year still look shaky, but with the Nats' offense not capable of running up the score on many opponents and likely to produce narrow wins when the team does manage to come out on top, Finnegan's fantasy value could be underrated right now.

MAY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Snares fifth save Finnegan picked up the save Wednesday against the Mets. He allowed no runs on no hits and no walks while striking out two over one inning.

Impact Finnegan recorded a fourth straight save Wednesday and didn't allow a run for a sixth consecutive appearance. The 31-year-old was part of a dominant outing by the Nationals bullpen, as he, Carl Edwards and Hunter Harvey failed to give up a hit in three innings of relief combined.

APRIL 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Locks up third straight save Finnegan picked up the save Friday against the Twins. He didn't allow a run on one hit and one walk in one inning.

Impact Finnegan allowed the first two batters of the inning to reach. But a soft line out and a double play gave the right hander his fourth save of the season. Finnegan allowed seven runs in his first three outings of the season. He has rebounded by not allowing a run over his last five innings, lowering his ERA to 8.59.

APRIL 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Earns save Sunday Finnegan picked up the save Sunday against the Guardians, allowing just one hit while recording a strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact Finnegan recorded his third save of the season Sunday, allowing just a two-out infield single to Myles Straw before punching out Steven Kwan to end the game. Finnegan has now thrown four consecutive scoreless innings, logging four strikeouts, two hits and one walk in that span. He seems to have a solid grasp on the closer job in Washington, though save opportunities may be hard to come by.

APRIL 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Secures second save Finnegan picked up the save in Monday's 6-4 victory over the Angels, striking out one across a perfect ninth inning.

Impact Finnegan came on in the ninth with a two-run lead and retired Jake Lamb and Taylor Ward before striking out Mike Trout to end the game. After allowing five runs in a blown save last week versus Tampa Bay, Finnegan has posted three straight scoreless outings and has a strikeout in each one of those contests.

APRIL 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Blows save in spectacular fashion Finnegan (0-1) blew the save and took the loss Tuesday, recording only one out and surrendering five runs on five hits -- including three home runs -- and a walk as the Nationals f...

Impact Called upon to protect a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth inning, Finnegan instead got taken deep by Luke Raley, Josh Lowe and Yandy Diaz to get tagged with his first blown save of the season. Manager Dave Martinez had already suggested this spring Finnegan might not get every save chance for the Nats, but it'll probably take a couple more disasters before he's out of the closer mix for good. Hunter Harvey and Carl Edwards figure to be the most likely alternatives in the ninth.

APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rays hit 3 HRs in 9th, rally past Nats 10-6 for 5-0 start

Luke Raley, Josh Lowe and Yandy Díaz homered in the ninth inning as the undefeated Tampa Bay Rays rallied for a 10-6 win over the Washington Nationals

APRIL 5, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Notches first save Finnegan worked a clean ninth inning to earn a save against Atlanta on Sunday.

Impact Finnegan was given the save opportunity after coughing up two runs in a non-save situation during his first appearance of the season. He needed just eight pitches to quickly finish off the 4-1 victory. The 31-year-old picked up 11 saves in 15 chances last season and looks to be the team's main ninth-inning arm once again.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles in ninth inning Thursday Finnegan yielded three runs -- two earned -- in one inning of work Thursday against Atlanta.

Impact Finnegan entered in the top of the ninth with the Nationals trailing 4-2, and he let the final score get to 7-2 after issuing a pair of walks and surrendering a double to Travis d'Aranuad. The 31-year-old right-hander stands out as the best bet for saves in the Washington bullpen, but he figures to offer more frustration than fantasy production on one of the worst teams in the majors.

MARCH 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not guaranteed closer role Finnegan was told early in the spring by manager Dave Martinez that he could be used in more of a fireman role rather than being limited to the ninth inning, Bobby Blanco of MASN r...

Impact "I talked to [Finnegan] already and I told him, 'Hey, look, there's gonna be days where you close. There's gonna be days where I feel like the eighth inning is where we need you the most,'" Martinez said in early March. "His response was, 'Hey, whenever you need me, I'll be ready.' I love that about him." Finnegan has collected 11 saves in each of the last two seasons and remains the most likely Washington reliever to crack double digits in 2023, but other options like Alex Colome, Hunter Harvey, Carl Edwards, Sean Doolittle (elbow) and Mason Thompson could also find themselves in the closer mix depending on matchups and performance.

MARCH 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE