Lord (0-2) yielded two runs on five hits and two walks over four innings in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against Colorado. He struck out five and took the loss.
Lord turned in three scoreless frames before Mickey Moniak knocked a two-run triple in the fourth inning. It was Lord's second straight start of at least four innings, but he's yet to complete at least five in an outing. He threw 46 of 65 pitches for strikes Sunday and forced 13 whiffs, including eight with his fastball. Lord owns a 4.73 ERA with a 10:9 K:BB through 13.1 frames this season. He's currently projected for a home start against the Mets next weekend.
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Nationals' Brad Lord: Concedes four runs in loss
Rotowire
Lord (0-1) took the loss Monday at Pittsburgh, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out one.
The 25-year-old rookie struggled in his second career start. Lord was chased early after 57 pitches -- only 28 of which were strikes -- that generated a paltry three whiffs. The right-hander, who now sports a 4.82 ERA and 5:7 K:BB across 9.1 innings, is filling a rotation spot while Michael Soroka (biceps) is on the injured list. Lord is currently slated to make his next start against the Rockies in Colorado this weekend.
Lord is scheduled to start Monday's game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
After winning a spot in Washington's Opening Day bullpen coming out of spring training, Lord moved into the rotation last week when Michael Soroka (biceps) landed on the injured list. Because he wasn't fully built up for a traditional starting role, Lord was lifted after three innings and 55 pitches in his outing last Tuesday against the Dodgers. He fared well in the tough matchup, striking out four Los Angeles batters while allowing no runs on two hits and two walks. Lord's workload will likely be restricted once again Monday, but he could be able to reach five innings if he's efficient with his pitch count. The 25-year-old rookie tentatively lines up for a two-start week, with his second outing likely to come Saturday in Colorado.
Nationals' Brad Lord: Tosses three scoreless innings
Rotowire
Lord allowed two hits and two walks over three scoreless innings in a no-decision Tuesday. He struck out four during the win over the Dodgers.
Lord was given the nod in a spot start and turned in a solid appearance. He needed 55 pitches (33 strikes) to get through three frames, but he avoided danger and kept the Dodgers off the board. Lord now owns a 1.80 ERA with a 4:4 K:BB through five innings this season. He's currently lined up to start in Pittsburgh next week.
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Nationals' Brad Lord: Set for spot start Tuesday
Rotowire
Lord will start Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Lord hasn't pitched more than one inning in an outing this season, but the Nationals are targeting him for 45-to-50 pitches in Tuesday's contest. Orlando Ribalta and Jackson Rutledge are two candidates to cover an inning or more behind Lord. Both pitchers should be fresh, as Rutledge hasn't pitched in a game since April 1 at Triple-A Rochester, while Ribalta hasn't been used out of the bullpen since Friday.
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Nationals' Brad Lord: Option to start Sunday
Rotowire
The Nationals could start Lord against the Diamondbacks on Sunday if he's not needed out of the bullpen Friday or Saturday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The right-hander made Washington's Opening Day roster and has given up two runs (one earned) in three relief appearances, but he could be called upon to start with Michael Soroka (biceps) landing on the injured list Friday. Lord split most of last season between the Double-A and Triple-A levels, and he finished 2024 with a 2.43 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 135:49 K:BB across 129.2 innings.
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Nationals' Brad Lord: Added to active roster
Rotowire
The Nationals selected Lord's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.
Lord finished spring training with a 6.08 ERA and 8:3 K:BB across 13.1 innings -- not good enough to win a starting job, but just enough to earn a spot as a long reliever. The 25-year-old righty logged a 3.93 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 55 Triple-A frames last season, and his first appearance of 2025 will mark his MLB debut. DJ Herz (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.
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Nationals' Brad Lord: In line to make Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Lord has made the Nationals' Opening Day roster, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Lord has predominately been a starter in the minors and could still return to that role, but the Nationals have opted to include him on their Opening Day roster in a long-relief role. The 25-year-old will be making his major-league debut if and when he gets into a game.
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Nationals' Brad Lord: In mix for bullpen spot
Rotowire
Lord is in the running to win a spot in the Nationals' Opening Day bullpen, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
Washington still views the 25-year-old right-hander as a potential starter in the long term, but Lord has shown improved velocity this spring and has been mostly sharp, aside from an eight-run implosion against the Rays on March 13. "I think he can come in and get us a ground ball in a tough situation, which is nice," manager Dave Martinez said Monday after Lord tossed a perfect inning against the Cardinals on 12 pitches. "But it's the deception. It's what he can do. It's everything that he's become and that we've seen that allows us to say: If this guy can throw strikes, he can give us two-plus innings." Lord appears to be in the running for one of the final two spots in the Nats bullpen, and he could be the team's best option to handle a long-relief role.
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Nationals' Brad Lord: Flashing improved velocity
Rotowire
Lord has been sitting 95-96 mph with his fastball in camp this spring, a significant improvement on the 92-93 mph he averaged in the minors last season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
The Nationals have had some impressive success in the last couple years turning unheralded prospects into major-league arms, and Lord might be the next hurler to join that list. An 18th-round pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, the 25-year-old right-hander pitched at three levels last year, finishing his breakout campaign with a 3.93 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 57:20 K:BB over 55 Triple-A innings. His success largely came from the deception in his nearly sidearm delivery, but if Lord has developed a legitimate fastball, it could position him for a spot in the big-league bullpen at some point in 2025.
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