Two weeks on the injured list in mid-to-late August likely kept veteran right-hander Derek Law from setting a Nationals record for games and relief innings pitched. As it is, he became the fourth National to complete 90 innings, joining Saul Rivera (93 in 2007), Jon Rauch (91.1 in 2006) and Tyler Clippard (91 in 2010).
Law, who turned 34 on Sept. 14, had his best season in 2024 since his rookie year with the Giants in 2016. His 7-4 won/loss record, 75 appearances and a league-leading 90 relief innings were career bests. His 2.60 earned run average was his best since his 2.13 in 61 games as a rookie.
Law allowed 1.178 base runners (walks/hits) per inning in 2024, best since a 0.954 WHIP in his rookie season. He’s eligible for arbitration, but the Nats tendered him a contract at the deadline so he’ll be back in the Nationals’ bullpen in 2025. Law should get a decent raise over the $1.5-million minor league deal he signed right before spring training, with no assurance then he’d make the major league roster.
After Hunter Harvey was traded to Kansas City in July, Law became one of main set-up man for closer Kyle Finnegan. His 75 game appearances made him the first Nationals’ reliever to do that since Wander Suero’s 78 games in 2019. Only two N.L. relievers appeared in more games in 2024 than Law.
Before his stint on the IL with a muscle strain, Law was on pace to top 100 innings pitched. Nobody who hadn’t started any games has done that since Scott Proctor of the Yankees pitched 102.1 innings in 2006.
Thanks to the ghost runner in 10th and any subsequent innings, few extra-inning games last past the 11th these days, which limit opportunities for long relief outings and high innings-pitched totals. So reaching 90-plus has become a bit more difficult.
The predecessor Expos record for both games and inning pitched by a reliever is held by the tireless Mike Marshall. He appeared in 92 games and pitched 179 innings – more than the total for most starting pitchers today – in 1973.
The next season with the Dodgers, Marshall set the modern record for game and innings by a reliever – 106 games and 208.1 innings — and won the Cy Young Award in the National League.
Washington baseball history 