KYLE FINNEGAN NEWS

Devers hits 2 HR; Red Sox to host Yanks in AL wild-card game

The Boston Red Sox have clinched a playoff berth on the regular season’s final day and will host the New York Yankees in the AL wild-card game after coming back to beat the Washing...

OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Struggles for 11th save Finnegan allowed two earned runs on two hits while striking out one across one inning, earning the save in the win over the Reds on Thursday.

Impact Finnegan entered the ninth inning with a three-run lead. He almost blew the lead, allowing three batters to reach base safely, including a triple by Max Schrock. However, he was able to strike out Tyler Stephenson to end the game. He has two blown saves in his last four appearances. The 29-year-old has a 3.57 ERA and 1.46 WHIP with 63 strikeouts in 63 innings this season.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Soto homers twice, boosts average to .325, Nats beat Reds

National League batting leader Juan Soto homered in consecutive innings, and the Washington Nationals pushed the Cincinnati Reds further from playoff contention with a 3-2 win in t...

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fedde scheduled to start for Nationals at Marlins

The Marlins are expected to send Jesus Luzardo to the mound Monday and the Nationals plan to give Erick Fedde the start

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Settles down for 10th save Finnegan walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 3-0 win over Colorado.

Impact After blowing his last two save chances by allowing a combined six runs over his last 2.1 innings, it was encouraging to see Finnegan keep the goose egg on the board. The right-hander has mostly been an effective option this year with a 3.34 ERA, although his 1.45 WHIP and 62:31 K:BB in 62 innings are far from encouraging ratios. He's 10-for-13 in save chances since taking over ninth-inning duties after Brad Hand and Daniel Hudson were traded at the deadline.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Soto's 454-foot homer helps Nationals beat Rockies 3-0

Juan Soto homered to back Paolo Espino and the Washington Nationals beat Colorado 3-0 to end the Rockies' rare five-game road winning streak

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Corbin expected to start for Washington against Colorado

The Rockies will start Kyle Freeland on Saturday while the Nationals are expected to counter with Patrick Corbin

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Another meltdown Friday Finnegan (5-8) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in one innings, taking the loss and a blown save versus Colorado on Friday.

Impact Tasked with protecting a one-run lead in the ninth inning, Finnegan blew a save for the second straight outing. He allowed a solo home run to Elias Diaz and an RBI single to Brendan Rodgers, which was enough to stick the right-hander with the loss. The 30-year-old has a 3.39 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 61:30 K:BB through 61 innings this year. Mason Thompson and Patrick Murphy both pitched perfect innings prior to Finnegan's meltdown Friday, and they could be the top candidates to get any save chances should manager Dave Martinez take Finnegan out of the closer role.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rockies score 2 in 9th, beat Nats 9-8 for 4th straight win

Elías Díaz hit a tying homer and Brendan Rodgers had an RBI single as the Colorado Rockies rallied in the ninth inning to beat the Washington Nationals 9-8

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Implodes in loss Finnegan (5-7) allowed four runs on four hits and a walk with one strikeout in 1.1 innings, taking the loss and a blown save versus Miami on Wednesday.

Impact The 30-year-old was responsible for all of Miami's four-run ninth inning, which gave the visitors their only lead in the contest. This was just the second blown save of the year for Finnegan, who has added nine saves and 12 holds in 61 appearances. He's been mostly solid with a 3.15 ERA, but a 1.42 WHIP and 61:29 K:BB indicate he's gotten away with some sloppy work on the mound. Finnegan still figures to serve as the primary closer for the remainder of the campaign.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

In a matchup of overmatched bullpens, the Marlins blast past the Nationals Kyle Finnegan surrendered four runs in the ninth inning as Miami rallied to an 8-6 victory over the Nationals on Wednesday afternoon at Nati...

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Sanchez homers twice, Marlins rally past Nationals 8-6

Jesus Sanchez’s second two-run homer of the day capped a four-run ninth inning, and the Miami Marlins rallied past the Washington Nationals 8-6

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Earns five-out save Finnegan struck out one batter over 1.2 perfect innings and earned a save over Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Impact Finnegan was called on to protect a 6-2 lead and had no issue finishing off the game. He's converted his last seven save opportunities dating back to Aug. 7 with a 1.23 ERA during that span. Finnegan has nine saves with a 60:28 K:BB on the year.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Outside of the ninth inning, Kyle Finnegan doesn't act like the Nationals' closer On this roster, it is logical for Finnegan to get the most important spots. But the Nationals also consider him a middle reliever or setup m...

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Notches save Wednesday Finnegan allowed one hit with a pair of strikeouts to earn his eighth save of the season Wednesday against Atlanta.

Impact Finnegan, the sixth and final reliever utilized by the Nationals after starter Sean Nolin was ejected in the first inning, stranded a two-out single by Jorge Soler to convert his fifth straight save chance. The 30-year-old Finnegan boasts a 2.73 ERA in 56 innings this season despite allowing 51 hits and 28 walks.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Soto's go-ahead homer sends Nationals past Braves, 4-2

Juan Soto crushed a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning and the Washington Nationals relied on their bullpen after Sean Nolin’s first-inning ejection to take a 4-2 win over the At...

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Collects fifth win Finnegan (5-6) picked up the win Monday, giving up one hit and one walk over two scoreless innings in a 4-3 victory over the Mets. He struck out two.

Impact With the Nats down 3-2, Finnegan entered in the eighth inning and kept his team in the game until Washington rallied in the ninth off Edwin Diaz. Finnegan worked both ends of Saturday's doubleheader as well and has tossed four innings over the last three days, so look for him to be unavailable Tuesday if the Nats manage to create a save situation.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kieboom, Nats rally again, score 2 in 9th to edge Mets 4-3

Carter Kieboom and Andrew Stevenson hit RBI singles in the ninth inning off Edwin Díaz and the Washington Nationals rallied once again, edging the New York Mets 4-3 in the finale o...

SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mixed results in twin bill Finnegan (4-6) took the loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets but then recorded his seventh save of the season in the second game.

Impact The Nats were in a 9-0 hole at one point in the matinee but managed to send the game to extra innings with a late rally, only for Finnegan to serve up a game-winning two-run shot to Francisco Lindor in the top of the ninth. The right-hander then bounced back in the nightcap, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless seventh inning to nail down a 4-3 win. Finnegan has fallen into the closer role for Washington but has mostly held up in high-leverage spots, posting a 1.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 9:6 K:BB through 12 innings since the beginning of August while converting five of his six save chances.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nats stop Mets' 6-game win streak, end own skid with split

Lane Thomas and Alcides Escobar homered as the Washington Nationals ended a seven-game skid, beating the Mets 4-3 night to split a doubleheader and stop New York’s six-game winning...

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mets beat Nats in 10 innings for fifth straight win

Kevin Pillar drove in two with a 10th-inning double and the New York Mets recovered after blowing a late lead to beat the Washington Nationals 6-2 for their fifth straight win

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reinstated prior to Friday's game Finnegan was reinstated from the paternity list prior to Friday's game against the Mets.

Impact He ends up missing three days to attend to the birth of his child. Finnegan is the unquestioned closer for Washington, so he could net a handful of saves down the stretch.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Surging Phillies win 5th in a row, rally past Nationals 12-6

Bryce Harper hit a go-ahead single against his former team as part of a six-run sixth inning, Rafael Marchán, Andrew McCutchen and Brad Miller hit two-run homers, and the Philadelp...

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Placed on paternity list Finnegan landed on the paternity list Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Finnegan has emerged as the Nationals' primary closer, saving six games in his last 13 appearances while allowing just a single earned run in 12 innings over that stretch. No other National has recorded a save since Brad Hand was dealt to the Blue Jays at the deadline, so the next man up in Finnegan's absence isn't obvious. Among the relievers currently on the roster, Mason Thompson, Austin Voth and Wander Suero (who was recalled to take Finnegan's roster spot) have appeared in the highest-leverage situations this season. Finnegan should return no later than Friday.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Wheeler scheduled to start for Phillies at Nationals

The Nationals will send Josiah Gray to the mound Monday and the Phillies plan to give Zack Wheeler the start

AUGUST 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS