On Friday, the Washington Nationals will open up a series with the Miami Marlins in Florida.
They are coming off a 2-0 loss to the Rangers on Thursday in Texas.
Ex-Yankees Pitcher Demoted By Nats
GettyYovanny Cruz #48 of the Washington Nationals prepares to throw a pitch during the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on August 18, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
Earlier this month, the Nationals acquired Yovanny Cruz (via the New York Yankees).
The Yankees wrote (via X) on August 2: “The New York Yankees today announced that they have acquired infielder Luis García Jr. from the Washington Nationals in exchange for right-handed pitchers Jake Bird, Yovanny Cruz, Jack Cebert and Ben Grable.”
Cruz has appeared in six games for the Nationals.
In that span, he has gone 0-1 with an 11.25 ERA.
Recently, the Nationals sent Cruz to Triple-A.
Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic wrote (on August 19): “The Nationals have promoted lefty Erik Tolman and optioned Yovanny Cruz to Triple-A Rochester. Tolman’s whole journey won’t fit in a tweet, but he’s a 14th-rounder who returned from two elbow surgeries and a freak foot/leg injury with nasty stuff. Up next: His MLB debut.”
Tolman’s whole journey won’t fit in a tweet, but he’s a 14th-rounder who returned from two elbow surgeries and a freak foot/leg injury with nasty stuff.
Up next: His MLB debut.
Cruz is in the middle of his rookie season at the MLB level.
He had appeared in four games for New York.
Social Media Reacts To Yovanny News
GettyYovanny Cruz #48 of the Washington Nationals throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on August 18, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
Here’s what people were saying about Cruz:
@starsstrikesbb: “Still a big Yovanny Cruz believer. They need to work on his mechanics so he can land his fastball for a strike. Without it he was basically a one-pitch guy and that just doesn’t work even with a nasty slider. Get that fastball in the zone and the turnaround will be massive.”
@NatsAnalysis: “Absolutely. If you can’t see the upside you aren’t looking very hard.. a few tweaks and he’s a legit back end reliever. The stuff will play if he can get it in the zone enough”
@Nats_HRs: “Cruz need to work on his control”
GettyYovanny Cruz #96 of the New York Yankees reacts after making his Major League Baseball debut during the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on May 20, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Yankees And Nats Right Now
The Yankees are the second-place team in the American League East with a 72-55 record in 127 games.
Meanwhile, the Nationals are the fourth-place team in the National League East with a 61-68 record in 129 games.
Ex-New York Yankees Pitcher Demoted By New MLB Team