The Nationals released Mikolas on Friday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Mikolas is now officially a free agent after passing through waivers following his removal from the Nationals' 40-man roster. The veteran right-hander has logged a 5.82 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 116 innings this season and will likely have to accept a minor-league contract if he wishes to continue his playing career.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Dropped from Nats' 40-man roster
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The Nationals designated Mikolas for assignment Wednesday.
Mikolas had been a member of the rotation throughout the season as either a starter or primary pitcher out of the bullpen, but his usage as a mop-up man in relief during Tuesday's 8-6 loss to the Cubs appeared to signal that his time in Washington was nearing an end. The Nationals made it official Wednesday, dropping Mikolas from the 40-man roster to clear a spot for left-hander Jackson Kent, who was called up from Triple-A Rochester to start Wednesday's contest. Mikolas will be available via waivers at a $2.25 million salary, but the 37-year-old is unlikely to command much interest after submitting a 5.82 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over his 116 innings with the Nationals.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Works out of bullpen Tuesday
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Mikolas threw three innings of relief in Tuesday's 8-6 loss to the Cubs, giving up a solo home run and striking out two without walking a batter.
The veteran righty has worked behind an opener on many occasions this season and has officially gotten the start in just 11 of his 25 appearances, but Tuesday's usage was a sign Mikolas might have lost his starting job completely, as he entered the game in the seventh inning with his team down 7-4. The Nationals will call up Jackson Kent on Wednesday to fill one rotation vacancy, and fellow prospect Luis Perales may not be far behind if Mikolas is being moved to the bullpen full-time, or Mikolas could even follow Zack Littell off the 40-man roster.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Takes eighth loss
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Mikolas (3-8) took the loss against Atlanta on Saturday, allowing four runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out three batters over six innings.
Mikolas struggled to keep the ball in the park, at Atlanta teed off for three homers against him, including two in the first inning. The right-hander at least managed to give Washington six frames, but he ultimately fell to his eighth defeat of the campaign and his first since June 29. Mikolas' ERA now stands at 5.67 through 108 frames, which would be the worst mark in the league if he had enough innings to qualify (he's currently four frames short). He's lined up for a tough road matchup in Philadelphia his next time out.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Struggles in no-decision
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Mikolas took a no-decision Sunday against the Diamondbacks, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out four.
Mikolas rejoined the rotation following a pair of outings as a long reliever, but the shift in role didn't yield better results Sunday. The 37-year-old right-hander has had a hard time putting batters away all year long -- he's yet to exceed four strikeouts in any of his 22 appearances and remains without a single quality start. Mikolas is unlikely to carry much fantasy appeal his next time out in Atlanta, where he'll bring a 5.65 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB over 102 innings.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Ineffective as bulk reliever
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Mikolas allowed three runs on six hits and no walks while striking out one batter over 3.2 relief innings in a no-decision against Colorado on Tuesday.
Mikolas inherited a 4-2 deficit when he entered with two outs and a runner on first base in the second inning. The right-hander got out of that frame without allowing the inherited runner to cross the plate, but Washington scored in three of the remaining four innings in which he appeared. Mikolas has been better this season as a bulk reliever than as a traditional starter, but his overall 5.60 ERA and 4.7 K/9 make him an unappealing fantasy asset in all but the deepest of leagues. He's projected to make his next appearance -- either as a starter or in bulk relief -- at home versus Toronto.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Following opener Tuesday
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Mikolas will be deployed as a bulk reliever in Tuesday's game versus the Rockies, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Back in action after serving a five-game suspension, Mikolas will make his 13th appearance of the season out of the bullpen while pitching behind opener Carson Palmquist. Mikolas went four scoreless innings in bulk relief his last time out against the Yankees on July 11 and has fared much better this season in that role (3.51 ERA) than he has as a traditional starter (8.53 ERA).
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Tagged with five-game suspension
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Mikolas has received a five-game suspension Thursday for his actions during the benches-clearing incident Tuesday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
The benches clearing incident in Sunday's game versus the Nationals got sparked after Cade Cavalli struck out Willson Contreras. On the Nationals' side, Cavalli also received a suspension, but for seven games instead of five. On the Red Sox, Contreras got a seven-game suspension and Nate Eaton received a three-game suspension. Mikolas can appeal the suspension, but as of Thursday he will miss an expected start and not be able to return until July 8.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Lasts seven frames in seventh loss
Rotowire
Mikolas (2-7) took the loss Monday, allowing six runs on nine hits and no walks over seven innings in a 6-3 loss to the Red Sox. He struck out three.
Mikolas was ambushed early, allowing four runs on two homers in just the first frame before giving up another run in both the second and third innings. Despite his poor showing early on, the Nationals stuck with the right-hander to eat innings and he managed to dig in and complete seven frames on 97 pitches (68 strikes). The 37-year-old has had only brief moments of success while largely struggling throughout the 2026 campaign. Mikolas will take a 5.44 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 47:17 K:BB across 84.1 innings (18 appearances) into his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Sunday against the Pirates.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Bulk-relief outing awaits Wednesday
Rotowire
Mikolas is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Carson Palmquist during Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
The Nationals will likely let the left-handed Palmquist cover the first inning or two, sparing the right-handed Mikolas from at least one matchup with left-handed hitters Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber (back), both of whom typically occupy top-three spots in the order. Working as a bulk reliever for his turns through the rotation is nothing new for Mikolas, who has started in just six of his 16 appearances so far this season. As a reliever, Mikolas has turned in a 4.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 8.8 K-BB% over 49 innings, with all of those ratios being markedly better than what he's provided as a starter.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Saddled with loss in bulk role
Rotowire
Mikolas (2-6) took the loss Friday as the Nationals were downed 5-2 by the Rays, giving up five runs on nine hits and a walk over six innings of relief. He struck out two.
A three-run homer by Jonathan Aranda in the third inning and a solo shot by Jonny DeLuca in the eighth bookended Mikolas' night as the bulk reliever and accounted for most of the damage off the right-hander. It's the second time in four June outings that he's been tagged for five or more runs, but Mikolas blanked the opposition over 11.2 innings in his other two appearances this month. The volatile veteran will take a 5.47 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 43:17 K:BB and 1.95 HR/9 through 74 innings into his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next week against the Phillies.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Handling bulk-relief role
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Mikolas is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opener PJ Poulin in Sunday's game against the Mariners, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.
Mikolas will be making his sixth straight appearance as a bulk reliever, this time working behind Poulin after lefty Richard Lovelady served as the Nationals' opener in Mikolas' previous turn through the rotation. The veteran right-hander has gone 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB in 25 innings over his last five outings.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Solid in bulk relief Monday
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Mikolas allowed three hits and no walks while striking out two over 4.2 scoreless innings of bulk relief Monday against the Giants.
Entering in the second inning following opener Richard Lovelady, Mikolas didn't miss many bats but kept the Giants' offense off the board before exiting after 54 pitches (41 strikes). It was a nice rebound outing after he surrendered six runs across six frames in his previous start against the Marlins, though the right-hander's season numbers remain quite poor. Mikolas will take a 1-5 record with a 5.90 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 61 innings (14 appearances) into his next outing, which is tentatively scheduled for Sunday against the Mariners.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Gives up three homers in loss
Rotowire
Mikolas (1-5) took the loss against the Marlins on Tuesday, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four across six innings.
Richard Lovelady served as the Nationals' opener in Tuesday's game, tossing two scoreless innings before turning the keys to Mikolas in the third. Mikolas also kept Miami off the board over his first two frames but unravelled in the fifth, when he gave up four runs on three straight homers. He pitched into the ninth inning with the Nationals down 4-3 but was tagged for two more runs in the inning, and his six earned runs were his most in a game since April 3 against the Dodgers (11). Mikolas sits at a 6.39 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 36:16 K:BB across 56.1 innings this season. His next start is lined up for next week on the road against the Giants.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Likely following opener
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Mikolas is not starting Tuesday against the Marlins but is likely to follow opener Richard Lovelady, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
It'll be the seventh bulk-relief appearance of the season for Mikolas, who has a 3.91 ERA and 1.18 WHIP when working behind an opener this year compared to an 8.28 ERA as a tradition starter (six games). Even with the improved results, Mikolas doesn't have much fantasy appeal with a 13:4 K:BB across 25.1 innings when working in bulk relief.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Will follow opener Wednesday
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Mikolas is slated to follow an opener Wednesday in Cleveland, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
PJ Poulin will open the game for the Nationals before Mikolas handles the bulk of the workload. Mikolas has collected a 3.74 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in five bulk relief outings this season, as compared to an 8.28 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in six traditional starts.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Handling bulk-relief role Sunday
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Mikolas is expected to be deployed in bulk relief behind opener Richard Lovelady in Sunday's game against the Orioles, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Mikolas started his prior three appearances, but the Nationals are opting to bring him out of the bullpen for the fourth time this season Sunday. Mikolas accrued a 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB in 11 innings over his prior three bulk relief outings.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Early exit in no-decision
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Mikolas didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the Reds, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over 3.1 innings. He struck out two.
The veteran righty got plenty of offensive support on a night when the Nationals launched six home runs, but he couldn't stick around long enough to benefit from it as Mikolas got the hook after 71 inefficient pitches (45 strikes). Injuries to other pitchers would seem to be the only thing keeping Mikolas in the rotation at this point, as he's completed five innings only twice in nine outings (six starts and three bulk relief appearances). He'll take a 7.00 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 24:13 K:BB through 36 innings into his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home this weekend against the Orioles.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Earns first win of season
Rotowire
Mikolas (1-3) earned the win Wednesday against the Twins after allowing two runs on three hits across 5.1 innings, fanning three.
Mikolas delivered his best outing of the season Wednesday, as he pitched into the sixth inning for the first time in 2026 and allowed two or fewer runs in four of his last six starts. The long balls remain an issue, however, as he's given up nine home runs across 32.2 innings. Mikolas has a long way to go before being worthy of consideration as a streaming option in most formats, but this was a step in the right direction. He's scheduled to make his next start at Cincinnati next week.
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Nationals' Andrew Alvarez: Promoted Sunday
Rotowire
The Nationals recalled Alvarez from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.
The left-hander has a 4.66 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB across 19.1 frames in four starts for Rochester and will now get a look in the big-league bullpen. The Nationals are starting PJ Poulin as an opener Sunday before turning to primary pitcher Miles Mikolas, after which Alvarez could be called upon to provide some more length.
