Riley Cornelio’s Turning Point | Washington Nationals News

Corey (0:00)

On September 15th, Riley Cornelio, a 26-year-old pitcher for the Washington Nationals, has had a tough goal of it this season. Through early September, his earned run average was nearly six, and his walks were way up, making him a bit of a question mark out of the bullpen. He was struggling to find his rhythm, and the team needed more consistency from their pitching staff. But then something shifted. Cornelio got a chance to start a couple of games, and he really turned heads. Against the San Diego Padres, he pitched three perfect innings, striking out four. Then, against the Los Angeles Angels, he followed that up with two scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and a walk, while striking out another. Four. These recent outings have definitely boosted his numbers, bringing his season ERA down significantly. It's interesting because his stats actually look a little better when he's coming out of the bullpen, with a lower ERA and relief appearances compared to his starts.

Yet, his manager hasn't ruled out keeping him in a starting role. The Nationals as a whole have been battling pitching issues all year, with one of the worst bullpens in the league and a high team ERA.

They've even set a record for blown saves.

So, while Cornelio's role might still be up in the air, his recent success is a bright spot for a team that desperately needs it. Even though the Nationals are out of the playoff race, Cornelio's improved performance is giving the team something to build on. It looks like he's found a way to contribute, and the focus now is figuring out the best spot for him on the roster moving forward. From your team, powered by AI, this is Washington Nationals News Today. I'm Corey with the story.