Josiah Gray

Andres Chaparro launches two home runs in the finale.

Josiah Gray records a save.

But the real story isn't what happened on the field.

It's who gets to play there next year.

Okay, segment two, the pitching depth chart.

We have a huge rotation.

Josiah Gray, Jake Irvin, Cade Cavalli, Jackson Kent, DJ Herz, Andrew Alvarez, Connelly Early.

That's seven starters.

Andres Chaparro launched two home runs.

Josiah Gray earned a save in his first home appearance in over two years.

And the front office just handed out suspensions that shake up the entire farm system.

If you thought the national season ended with a whimper against the Mets, think again, because today, we are digging into the real storylines of 77 and 85.

In a season where the offense struggled to generate consistent run support, Chaparro's ability to hit extra base hits is a huge positive takeaway.

it definitely stands out, especially compared to some of the other struggles we saw earlier in the year.

Speaking of the finale, at Natsfan99 asks, Josiah Gray earned a save? In his own home ballpark? After two years? What does that tell us about his role moving forward?

That is a bizarre and wonderful storyline.

Andres Chaparro with a two-homer explosion in the finale.

Josiah Gray clutching up for a save in front of his own crowd.

And the fallout from those suspensions hanging over the farm system.

This is the Beatline Podcast Network, and you're listening to Washington Nationals Daily.

And remember, this was against a Mets team that finished fifth.

But still, facing big league arms, Chaparro didn't flinch.

Sarah from Rochester also wants to know about Josiah Gray.

He got the save in that 7-6 win.

When a team like New York implodes, it forces everyone else in the division to step up.

Speaking of stepping up, Josiah Gray earned his first Major League save in that Friday night win.

It was his first home appearance in more than two years.

That's clutch pitching under pressure.

[cheering]

Josiah Gray, a save and a sweep of the Mets in his first home appearance in two years.

That is the kind of clutch moment that defines a rebuild, even when the final record says otherwise.

It was a defining night for Washington, a seven to six win that sent the high-spending Mets to their first last place finish since 2003.

That's why they are fourth, not second.

So the offense is volatile.

What about the pitching? We know the rotation is young, Cade Cavalli, Josiah Gray, Jay Girvin.

How did that group perform relative to the rest of the league?

And so the question to me, for me to you, is it green light, red light? Green light being 10-term contract, red light? Sorry, but we're going to have to move on.

Josiah Gray, we have to lead it off.

He's got the most service time.

I think last year of arbitration for him.

Can it be better spent elsewhere? Probably.

Yeah.

All right, that's where we get to the big three here with Jake Irvin, C.J. Abrams, Josiah Gray.

And I say the big three because they're the longest-tenured guys here.

Andres Chaparro went yard twice in the season finale.

Josiah Gray secured a historic save.

And we're answering your questions on the entire 77-85 season.

It was a wild finish to the year in the NL East.

It doesn't change the major league club right now, but it affects who they might call up if injuries hit in spring training.

Let's pivot to the most exciting moment of the final weekend.

Sarah from Rochester wants to know, was Josiah Gray's save really that big of a deal? He hasn't saved a game in over two years.

It was huge, not just because it was his first save in over two years, but because it came in a home appearance where the Nationals had to hold off the Mets offense.

Andres Chaparro with two home runs in the season finale.

Josiah Gray earning his first career save.

And the New York Mets securing their first last place finish since 2003.

It was a wild week in D.C. and we are here to unpack every single piece of it.

They had Mauricio and Ewing going deep, but Washington's young guns stepped up when it mattered most.

Next question is from Marcus in Silver Spring.

He wants to know, what about Josiah Gray? He got the save.

Is he the closer now?

Like we weren't expecting him to be incredible or anything, but just getting a couple of stars at the end of the year there was, was good for him.

And then Josiah Gray kind of, kind of comes up.

Yeah.

Let's just talk about that first.

And what I mean by that is, Does your curveball move like every other curveball, or is it different? A guy like Will Dion, for example, lefty, high over the top arm angle, like the second highest in baseball behind Alex Adesia.

Four-seam fastball, he's got the Max Fried four-seam fastball, the one that just cuts, even though you're not even trying to throw a cutter, it's just your arm angle is kind of giving it that cut.

wrong way curve ball it's breaking the opposite way like he's a very unique type of pitcher and we know Josiah Gray's also kind of got that wrong way curve ball where and you could see if you watch his at bat where he struck out Francisco Lindor he threw three of them and it's like guys they're used to seeing spin and having it move into their bat path, especially lefties.

Right.