Williams rounds out Nats' 2024 rotation

JUPITER, Fla. -- Following a competition for the fifth starter role that came down to the last days of camp, the Nationals have determined their starting rotation for the 2024 season.

Trevor Williams edged out fellow righty Zach Davies for the final spot, joining right-hander Josiah Gray, left-hander Patrick Corbin, right-hander Jake Irvin and left-hander MacKenzie Gore. Gray will start Opening Day of the season in Cincinnati on March 28, and Gore will start the home opener at Nationals Park on April 1.

“It was a tough choice, a tough decision,” manager Dave Martinez said before the Nationals’ split-squad 2-2 tie with the Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Saturday afternoon. “We decided we were going to go with Trevor as our fifth starter. … Zach was a professional. He’s a good guy. I wish him all the best, and hopefully he gets picked up somewhere. But Trevor’s done well. I think he deserves a chance, at least at the beginning, to start. And then we’ll see where it goes from there.”

Veterans Williams and Davies were in different scenarios in Spring Training: Williams made 30 starts as a member of the Nationals’ rotation in 2023, and he is entering his second season of a two-year deal worth $13 million. Davies, who was released by Arizona in September, joined Washington on a Minor League deal in February.

In Grapefruit League action, Williams went 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA in four starts (15 innings), while Davies was 2-2 with a 9.00 ERA in four starts (14 innings). Davies, who was unconditionally released on Friday, will pursue his next opportunity, having experience with the Brewers, Padres, Cubs and D-backs.

“He said he was going to try to get another job in the big leagues,” Martinez said. “I told him, ‘If nothing works out and you want to come back, I’m sure we can work something out.’”

The Nationals had been weighing their starting options as they shaped their bullpen, which is not yet finalized. They are interested in identifying a long reliever, and Williams has filled both pitching roles in the past. With Williams in the rotation, left-hander Robert Garcia and right-hander Jordan Weems are among the top candidates.

The depth of the bullpen contenders also shaped the rotation considerations. With five days until Opening Day, the Nats still are deciding between Garcia and right-handers Jacob Barnes, Matt Barnes and Derek Law for the three final spots in the ‘pen. With that, there wasn’t as much of a need to shift Williams or Davies into a long-reliever role.

“That was definitely part of my conversation with [general manager Mike Rizzo],” Martinez said. “We have so many qualified guys who can pitch in the bullpen. The thing that we really talked about is the multi-inning guys, who’s going to be the bridge to the back end of the bullpen. I mentioned two guys, and we’ve got a couple guys vying for that spot who can do that thing.”

The Nationals will have to address their starting rotation again when right-hander Cade Cavalli returns from Tommy John surgery. The club’s No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is on track for June. The team also has arms in Triple-A -- including No. 15 prospect righty Jackson Rutledge, who made four Major League starts last season -- projected to become regular members of the rotation.

“I’m hoping that Trevor gets off to a good start and he pitches for us,” Martinez said. “If he does, then we’ll win some games. When that time comes, we’ll have to make that decision. You also have to think about, Rutledge is going down [to Triple-A] and getting stretched out. If something happens, we have Rut as well. We have [No. 22 prospect] Mitchell Parker, who has done well. We definitely have depth, which is nice, and we have options.”