Irvin gave up six runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks over 3.1 innings during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets. He struck out three.
Some shaky defense behind the right-hander got Irvin off the hook for some earned runs during a six-run first inning by New York, but most of the damage came on homers by Mark Vientos and Jakson Reetz. Irvin was still able to build up to 81 pitches (48 strikes), and the 28-year-old remains on track to begin the season in the Nationals' rotation despite his disconcerting 5:6 K:BB through 10.2 spring innings.
Irvin tossed a perfect inning in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
The 28-year-old right-hander needed only eight pitches to breeze through his first game action of the spring. Per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports, one of those eight pitches was a slider, an offering Irvin is trying to add to his arsenal in an effort to get more whiffs. "I struggled a lot with getting in-zone swing and miss last year," Irvin said after Saturday's outing. "[The slider] is something that will kind of balance out the really slower curveball and the harder fastball. And then my cutter and changeup are both a little harder, too. I wanted something that's in that middle ground there." Irvin posted a 4.41 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 156:52 K:BB over a career-high 187.2 innings in 2024.
Irvin (10-14) took the loss Sunday against the Phillies, allowing six earned runs on five hits and three walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out three.
Irvin stumbled out of the gates, allowing the bases to be loaded with zero outs in the opening frame. He managed to limit the damage to two runs, but Irvin ran into trouble again in the fifth inning. The right-hander again loaded the bases with nobody out, allowing a pair of runs to score on a Kyle Schwarber single and later a Weston Wilson double. The 27-year-old Irvin finishes his second professional campaign with a respectable 4.41 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 156:52 K:BB in 187.2 innings (33 starts). Irvin will look for more consistency next season after he limped to the finish line in 2024, pitching to a 5.90 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 57:23 K:BB in 71.2 innings after the All-Star break.
Irvin (10-13) allowed five runs on four hits and four walks while striking out three over four innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Cubs.
Irvin yielded three home runs, which accounted for four of the five runs he surrendered. He's struggled with the Cubs both times he's faced them this year, allowing 12 runs over 8.2 innings in those starts. Irvin is now at a 4.22 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 153:49 K:BB across 183.1 innings through 32 starts. His last start of the season is projected to be at home versus the Phillies.
Nationals' Jake Irvin: Sharp in no-decision Monday
Rotowire
Irvin came away with a no-decision in Monday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Mets, allowing one run on four hits and a walk through 7.1 innings. He struck out five.
The righty put together his second straight quality start and 16th of the season on 94 pitches (65 strikes), and Irvin took a shutout into the eighth inning before New York finally broke through. Irvin has had a bumpy finish to the campaign, giving up at least four runs in five of nine outings since the beginning of August while posting a 5.65 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 39:15 K:BB through 51 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which lines up to come on the road this weekend against the Cubs.
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