Nationals Need Lefty Relievers | Washington Nationals News

**Corey** (0:00)
It's July 27th. Welcome to Washington Nationals News Today. AI-powered coverage of your squad. I'm Corey with the story. The Nationals bullpen is a mess, and they need help, especially with left-handed arms. Guys like Tom Cosgrove and Carson Palquist just aren't cutting in. Even injured pitchers aren't the answer.
One name to consider is Brennan Bernardino. He's a lefty who doesn't throw super hard, but is amazing at limiting hard contact. He's got a solid earned run average, and has proven he can pitch well anywhere, even at Coors Field. Plus, he's affordable and has years of control left. Then there's Elvis Alvarado, a much riskier pick.
This 6'6 righty throws heat, averaging 99 miles per hour.
This season hasn't been great for him, but last year he was solid. His main issue is giving up too many barrels, but if he can fix that, he's got serious potential. He strikes out a lot of batters, and with a little adjustment to his pitch mix, he could be lights out. Chase Silseth is another interesting option. He used to be a starter, but has found a groove in the bullpen.
His earned run average is good, and he's got a nasty 4 pitch mix that gets a ton of swings and misses. His fastball and splitter are particularly effective. He's young and has room to grow, though he needs to work on his control. The Nationals General Manager, Paul Toboni, is likely looking for these kinds of under-the-radar relievers rather than making a huge splash for. Someone like Josh Hader. He can afford to make these moves by trading from his infield depth or players nearing Rule 5 eligibility. It would send a good message to the team that they're trying to win now.
These kinds of trades make a lot of sense for the Nationals. They need to balance competing this year with building for the future. It's a delicate act, but picking up a reliever like Bernardino or Silseth could be a smart move that pays off both immediately and down the road.