Miles Mikolas, 37, was signed during 2026 spring training to join the Nationals starting rotation. He had been an all-star twice with St. Louis after spending three seasons pitching in Japam. Mikolas was 18-4 his first year back with the Cards, but had negative bWARs the past three seasons. Still, Paul Toboni, Washington new president of baseball operations, hoped Mikolas would provide a veteran presence on a young pitching staff.
Hit hard in first start in Chicago, Mikolas was counted on a rebound against the Dodgers on opening day, April 3, at Nationals Park. Instead, Mikolas became the second Nats pitch to yield 11 runs in a game Washington.
Even the beleaguer Patrick Corbin had gave up an unearned run among the 11 charged to him in three innings on July 30, 2024. All of the runs Mikolas gave up were earned, although a runner he put on base scored after a reliever took over in the fifth.
Mikolas actually started the game by retiring the first six Dodgers in order on 23 pitches, striking out Shohei Ohtani leading off. But the second time through the order, the hard-hitting defending champs were merciless with the long ball.
Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the third, Mookie Betts a two-run shot in the fourth, and Andy Pages and Freddie Freeman hit a pair of two-run blasts in the fifth. Finally after four and a third innings and L.A. ahead, 11-4, manager Blake Butera finally pulled his starter.
Even after a five-run third by Los Angeles, the Nats were down by just a run headed to the fourth. They were still within striking distance at 7-4 headed to the fifth. Still, Butara stuck with Mikolas, hoping, the young manager said, to save his bullpen. The decision sealed Washington fate, ensuring a third straight Nats’ loss. The fifth inning ended with Mikolas sporting a 14.46 earned run average.
Since Washington got a team back in 2005, no National until Mikolas had given up 11 earned runs in a game. Aside from Corbin, the five others who had yielded 10 earned runs: A.J. Cole, Gio Gonzalez, Jeremy Guthrie, Joe Ross and Jason Simontacchi.
Perhaps the Nats’ font office should have checked more closely with the Cardinals before signing Mikolas. Here’s what Thomas Gauvain posted earlier this season on the Redbird Rants site:
“After years of being tormented by Miles Mikolas starts, Cardinals fans can now rest a bit easier knowing they won’t have to see 30 outings that could blow up at any moment in 2026.”
Washington baseball history 