Cade Cavalli

Cade Cavalli

26-Year-Old PitcherSP
Washington Nationals
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Cavalli represents a cautionary tale for those looking to invest in young pitchers expected to return from Tommy John surgery this summer. He was due back in June of 2024 -- 15 months after his TJS -- but he experienced setbacks and dead arm and only pitched 8.1 innings across three rehab starts before getting shut down. At his best, Cavalli is a power righty with a full pitch mix and a high-strikeout ceiling as a starter, but it's possible he'll never fully return to form or that he could just end up a reliever due to durability issues. Cavalli's command was never a strength, and that's the last thing to return for pitchers returning from surgery, so he could have quite a bit of rust to knock off. The Nationals will continue to explore his potential in the big-league rotation in 2025, although he may be eased into things at Triple-A. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#398
ADP
Signed a one-year contract with the Nationals in March of 2025.
Impressive in season debut
PWashington Nationals
August 6, 2025
Cavalli didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Athletics, allowing three hits and one walk in 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out six.
Analysis
Making his first big-league appearance since 2022, Cavalli showcased plenty of swing-and-miss stuff in the form of 19 whiffs during an impressive season debut. The right-hander touched 99 mph with his fastball three times as he fired 88 pitches Wednesday, so he appears ready to handle a full starter's workload for his next scheduled appearance in Kansas City. With Michael Soroka having been traded away, Cavalli is looking to maintain a starting role in Washington's rotation the rest of the way.
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Pitching Stats
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2025 MLB Game Log
2025
2024
2023
2022
2020
2025 MLB Game Log
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2024 MLB Game Log
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2023 MLB Game Log
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2022 MLB Game Log
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2020 MLB Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
88
Last 10 Games
88
Last 5 Games
88
How many pitches does Cade Cavalli generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Cade Cavalli generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
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8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
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Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-38%
BAA vs LHP
2025
 
 
-38%
BAA vs LHP
2024
No Stats
2023
No Stats
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2023vs Left .125 8 3 0 1 0 0 0
Since 2023vs Right .200 11 3 1 2 0 0 0
2025vs Left .125 8 3 0 1 0 0 0
2025vs Right .200 11 3 1 2 0 0 0
2024vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
No Stats
2025
No Stats
2024
No Stats
2023
No Stats
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2023Home 0.00 0.92 4.1 0 0 0 12.5 2.1 0.0
Since 2023Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025Home 0.00 0.92 4.1 0 0 0 12.5 2.1 0.0
2025Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Cade Cavalli compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
6.00
 
K/9
12.5
 
BB/9
2.1
 
HR/9
0.0
 
Fastball
97.4 mph
 
ERA
0.00
 
WHIP
0.92
 
BABIP
.325
 
GB/FB
2.67
 
Left On Base
100.0%
 
Exit Velocity
76.7 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
0.0%
 
Spin Rate
2191 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
10.7%
 
Swinging Strike
21.6%
 
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
Cavalli needed Tommy John surgery in March of 2023, but he is doing well in his recovery and is on track to join the Nationals' rotation sometime this summer. It's easy to dismiss most Nationals starting pitchers in fantasy these days, but Cavalli has legitimate pedigree (2020 first rounder) and stuff. His fastball is a monster upper-90s offering that has touched triple digits in the past, and he pairs it with a plus curveball, above-average slider and a decent fourth-pitch changeup. Cavalli only has fringe-average command, and command can be the last thing to return for pitchers after TJS. If he is struggling to throw consistent strikes during his rehab assignment, that would diminish his waiver-wire appeal, but it's possible he will be a mixed-league option as early as June.
Cavalli has loud stuff and a clear path to a full season in the Nationals rotation. However a significant shoulder injury suffered in his first MLB start (Aug. 26) clouds his immediate future. He was able to throw pain-free from 60 feet at the end of the season, but he mentioned in an interview after landing on the injured list that he had never felt the kind of shoulder discomfort he was feeling at that time. The big 6-foot-4 righty sits at 96 mph with his fastball while showing off a plus mid-80s curveball and a changeup and slider that have the potential to be plus pitches in time. Cavalli's command and control have lagged behind, and this latest injury adds to the risk. The Nationals won't win many games in 2023 and haven't shown an ability to develop quality starting pitching, so there are factors outside Cavalli's control that lessen his appeal. However, he is still talented enough to merit consideration in most competitive leagues.
Cavalli made good on his billing as one of the very best pitchers in the 2020 draft, striking out 175 in 123.1 innings across stops at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A. The 13.2 BB% he logged at Double-A and Triple-A is the primary blemish on his pro debut, and improving his command and control will be the key to him reaching his ceiling as a frontline starter. He has a mid-90s fourseam fastball that touched triple digits last year and a bevy of quality secondary offerings. His slider is currently his best offspeed pitch, but his curveball and changeup show promise, giving him a complete repertoire. Getting up over 120 innings was a big accomplishment for the 6-foot-4, 226-pound righty, as he'd dealt with some injuries in college. Cavalli will head back to Triple-A with the goal of walking fewer batters, but he should spend a good chunk of the season in the big leagues if he stays healthy. Few pitching prospects can match his fantasy upside.
At 6-foot-4, 226 pounds, the right-handed Cavalli has a prototypical starter's frame with the stuff to match. A former two-way player at Oklahoma, he focused on pitching as a sophomore and his stock took off, with the Nationals popping him with the No. 22 pick in the 2020 draft. He sits in the mid-90s with his fastball and can touch 98 mph. Cavalli also has a plus slider, while his changeup and curveball project as above-average offerings. Back and arm injuries have held him back in prior seasons, and despite a clean, effortless delivery, throwing strikes has been an issue at times, although he only walked five while striking out 37 in 23.2 innings last spring. It would not be surprising if Cavalli ended up being the best pitcher from this historically good class of college arms, but he is also quite risky. He threw over 50 innings after getting drafted and could head to High-A this year.
More Fantasy News
Called up from '25 debut
PWashington Nationals
August 6, 2025
The Nationals recalled Cavalli from Triple-A Rochester ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Athletics in Washington.
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Joining rotation Wednesday
PWashington Nationals
August 5, 2025
The Nationals will recall Cavalli from Triple-A Rochester to start Wednesday's game versus the Athletics, Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan Washington reports.
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Could join rotation in June
PWashington Nationals
May 28, 2025
Cavalli has allowed two runs in nine innings with a 13:2 K:BB over his last two starts for Triple-A Rochester, and he could be called up to join the Nationals' rotation at some point in June, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
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Activated and optioned
PWashington Nationals
May 11, 2025
The Nationals reinstated Cavalli (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Rochester.
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Back on mound Friday
PWashington Nationals
Elbow
May 9, 2025
Cavalli (elbow) will get the start for Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Debut coming
PWashington Nationals
August 24, 2022
Cavalli could make his big-league debut as early as this weekend, reports Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com.
Analysis
Washington has yet to announce its starters for the weekend series against the Reds, but when they do, Cavalli's name could be listed as one of the probable starters. Should the 24-year-old make his debut, he is likely to retain his rookie status for next season, which could result in draft pick compensation for the Nationals if he's one of the top rookies in the league in 2023. Cavalli has strong numbers for Triple-A Rochester this season and has been dominant over his last 13 starts, going 5-1 with a 2.10 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 77:25 K:BB in 68.2 innings while allowing just two homers.
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