Those three give the most experienced of pitchers fits, let alone a rookie. But Parker didn’t seem fazed. He struck out Betts to open the game. And even after he allowed a run in each of the first two innings, Parker got better. He retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced in the Nationals’ 6-4 win over the Dodgers. Parker became the first Nationals starter to earn a win in his major league debut since Stephen Strasburg in 2010. Until Monday, starters were 0-11 with six no-decisions.
“It was a really good lineup and all those guys are very, very good,” Parker said. “The whole game is going to probably stick with me for a very long time.”
CJ Abrams led the charge for the Nationals early, scoring in the first inning on a wild pitch and then hitting his fourth home run of the year in the third. Joey Gallo hit an RBI double later that inning to give the Nationals a 3-2 lead before Luis García Jr. hit a three-run homer off Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow in the fifth. Parker was at 75 pitches entering the bottom of the frame, but only needed six more to get out of it. He ended by striking out Betts on just three pitches.
Monday went about as well as it could have for Parker, whom the Nationals selected in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. He finished last season with Class AAA Rochester and was protected from the Rule 5 draft in December.
He impressed during spring training but has made just one start this year for Rochester, which has had its schedule disrupted by rain. Still, in that April 6 outing, he gave up just one unearned run in four innings.
“To be honest, he didn’t impress me much,” García said about Parker’s debut. “I know what he has. I faced him in spring training. He’s a great pitcher. He’s got great stuff. I’m very happy for this moment for him because I knew what he was capable of.”
Parker’s arrival now was somewhat unlikely; he made just three starts at Class AAA in 2023, posting a 10.45 ERA. And Rochester right-handers Jackson Rutledge and Joan Adon have big league experience.
But necessity thrust Parker into the mix sooner than expected. The first domino fell Tuesday, when righty Josiah Gray went on the 15-day injured list with a strained right flexor muscle, creating a hole in the rotation.
Adon filled in that day but was optioned back to Rochester afterward. Catcher Drew Millas was recalled to take Adon’s roster spot and start Wednesday; Millas replaced Keibert Ruiz, who has been dealing with the flu. The Nationals thought Ruiz could play by Friday, so they sent Millas back down after Wednesday’s game. But Ruiz’s illness sidelined him through the weekend.
So both Millas and Parker were recalled from Rochester before Monday’s game, with Ruiz being placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Friday. Also, third baseman Nick Senzel was reinstated from the IL after fracturing his thumb ahead of the season opener; he went 1 for 3 with a walk. Infielder Trey Lipscomb, who hit .225 in 14 games filling in for Senzel, was sent to Rochester.
A position player must spend 10 days in the minors before he can be called up again unless he is being promoted for a doubleheader or is filling in for a player on the injured list. The latter caveat allowed the Nationals to bring back Millas — the only catcher on the 40-man roster beyond Ruiz and Riley Adams — to replace Ruiz. A pitcher must remain in the minors for 15 days, so that ruled out Adon for Monday night. Rutledge was hit by a comebacker Thursday and needed help getting off the field — but even before that, Manager Dave Martinez said he wanted Rutledge to make a few more starts in Class AAA to find his rhythm.
So that made Parker the choice for Monday. He had eight friends and family members in attendance for his debut that could be heard from the upper decks of Dodger Stadium thanks to Parker quieting the home crowd.
Parker uses three pitches — a fastball, a curveball and a splitter. His fastball and curveball complement each other well. This spring, Parker said he spent the offseason working to improve the splitter, which he called a “hit or miss” pitch a season ago. MLB Pipeline rates him the Nationals’ 21st-best prospect. Parker threw the splitter five times, but relied on 44 fastballs and 32 curves to stump the Dodgers.
Perhaps Parker can look to righty Jake Irvin for inspiration. Irvin was called up last season after just five starts in Class AAA but did enough to cement a spot in Washington’s rotation. Parker is likely to have a tougher time sticking around because he’s replacing Gray, an all-star last season. But Monday was his first chance to prove he belonged and Parker showed he was ready for the challenge.
“He did really well,” Manager Dave Martinez said. “He has a very low heartbeat. I’ve know that for a while and nothing seems to faze him.”
Before Monday’s game at Dodger Stadium, the Nationals and Dodgers gathered by the Jackie Robinson statue beyond center field for a ceremony honoring the player who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts emceed the program, eventually passing the mic to Martinez. Martinez thanked Robinson for paving the way not just for Black players but for Hispanic players such as himself and his idol, Roberto Clemente.
Seven-time MLB all-star Reggie Smith, who played from 1966 to 1982 (including six seasons with the Dodgers), and civil rights activist Harry Edwards also spoke at the event.
“We always get a chance every year to wear 42,” Martinez said. “But to wear it here, playing against the Dodgers in this stadium, that’s special.”
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