The Washington Nationals might be already trying to figure out what their offseason is going to look like, but that doesn't mean that guys who used to be in the organization haven't been busy. Of course, former Nationals like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber, among others, are already at gome on the couch, but one particular former National is still alive and doing big things.
No, I am not talking about former fan favorite Alex Call, who is on the Los Angeles Dodgers, but am instead talking about another guy who became a beloved fan favorite this year as well. That would be 2026 All-Star Foster Griffin, who has pitched in the postseason for the first time in his career this year.
Former National Foster Griffin pitches admirably in 2026 ALCS debut
For any Nationals fan that pays attention, you would probably agree that Foster Griffin was the best surprise of the 2026 season until the month of August. He was one of the best pitchers in the National League, and was a late addition to the All-Star Game in Philadelphia over the summer.
He was then traded at the trade deadline to the Cleveland Guardians in the final minutes as the Nationals brought back a group of pitchers including guys like Will Dion, who pitched well down the stretch for his new club. He has since been entrenched in the Guardians' pitching staff, where he has kept up his relatively steady performances for his new team.
Last night, he pitched in the ALCS for the first time in his career, and he pitched quite well in the Guardians' surprising Game 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on the road. He went 4.0 innings while managing to scatter 5 hits for only 2 earned runs, striking out 3 batters and not allowing a walk.
As someone who was known for his great control during his time with the Nationals, Griffin has not yet issued a walk across 6.2 postseason innings, but has struck out 10 batters combining both of his starts thus far in both the ALDS and ALCS.
Griffin will likely be in line for at least another start in this series for the Guardians, who had to burn their ace, Gavin Williams, during the final game of their series against the White Sox. Being able to turn to Griffin without having their preferred arm available is exactly why he was so sought after by the Guardians, and we will be monitoring his performances throughout the rest of this series.
What did you think of Foster Griffin's performance for the Guardians in last night's ALCS Game 1? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.
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