Finnegan vs. Robles in ALDS is a reminder of better days in Washington

On Wednesday, Kyle Finnegan and Victor Robles faced off in a key spot in the NLDS. The Tigers reliever grounded the Mariners outfielder into a double play, and Detroit went on to defeat Seattle by a score of 9-3.

The battle between these two former Nationals reminded us all of their tenures in Washington. Although in both cases the beginnings were better than the endings, there were numerous moments and accomplishments worth looking back on favorably.

Finnegan Strikes Out Trout, Ohtani, and Rendon

The day we realized that Finnegan might be a fixture in a high-leverage relief role was when he struck out the side against the Angels. In a game early in 2022, the Nationals had a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning, but the top of the lineup was due up for the Angels. That meant someone had to face the star-studded trio of Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and former Nationals standout Anthony Rendon.

Not only did Finnegan get the job done; he struck out all three of them. Although he had been pitching in key situations prior, this game was the beginning of his ascent towards becoming the team's closer.

Finnegan Eclipses 100 Saves

Speaking of Finnegan as a closer, he held that role for a significant amount of time. In that regard, the most notable milestone for the team's no. 2 leader in saves was when he surpassed 100 career saves. After sealing the deal 38 times in 2024, he reached triple-digit saves the following May. He finished his Nationals tenure with 108 saves before he was shipped off to Detroit.

Victor Throwbles

Despite not living up to what we thought he could do offensively, Robles had a lot of defensive highlights for Washington. That included some impressive catches, but the throws perhaps stood out even more.

One of his finest plays was against the Brewers in August 2019, in which he retired Mike Moustakas at second base. However, he showed off his arm as much or more a year later against the Phillies when he gunned down Jean Segura at first base.

The Praying Mantis

I would be remiss if we didn't address a more humorous moment.

The Wild Card Game

The best moment of all for Robles was the play that ended the 2019 Wild Card Game. Robles was on the fringe of Rookie of the Year conversations that season, and he arguably should have won a Gold Glove. However, this play had little to do with his ability, and was all about the power of the moment.

We all know the story of the 2019 team. They started the season 19-31, earned a playoff berth, won the Wild Card game with some thrilling moments (such as Juan Soto's hit to drive in three runs), and then went on a run to win the World Series.

This catch by Robles meant a lot, though. It sealed the franchise's first playoff series win since returning to Washington.

What do you think? Did the Finnegan-Robles matchup bring back any other memories? Let me know your thoughts @stephen_newman1 on X.