Nationals Demote Beeter After Rough Season | Washington Nationals News

**Corey** (0:00)
It's September 12th. Washington Nationals News Today starts now, AI-powered and game-ready. I'm Corey with the story. The Washington Nationals finally snapped their 7-game losing streak this past Friday, pulling out a 4-3 victory against the Los Angeles Angels. It's a much-needed win for a young squad that's faced a tough stretch, even setting a Major League Baseball record for most blown saves in a single season. This definitely signals that the bullpen needs a serious overhaul before the 20-27 season kicks off, and it looks like no one is safe when it comes to who will be part of that unit next year. Following that much-needed win, the team announced they've optioned right-handed pitcher Clayton Beeter to their Triple-A affiliate in Rochester. This move is pretty significant because Beeter was considered a cornerstone for the relief staff heading into the 20-26 season and he'd been handling the closer role for most of this year. However, it hasn't been smooth sailing for him, with his season ERA climbing to 4.5 after a rough patch in his last seven appearances, where his ERA did jump to 8.59.
Beeter's struggles have been particularly noticeable in the second half of the season. Since the All-Star break, he's pitched in 21 games and posted an ERA of 5.66.
A lot of his issues seem to stem from a lack of control, as he's given up 13 walks in just over 20 innings while only striking out 16
Batters This demotion clearly shows that the Nationals are re-evaluating all their bullpen options and Beeter will need to earn back trust in the Miners. With only 13 games left in the regular season, the pressure is on for the players currently on the roster to prove they deserve a spot in the 26-man group for spring training. The roles are wide open and it's a chance for guys to make their case and show they can be reliable arms for the team moving forward. This is a critical time for development and evaluation.