Finnegan earned the save Sunday against Philadelphia, allowing no hits and one walk over a scoreless inning while striking out one.

EDGE Analysis

Finnegan took another step away from his March 31 blown save, registering a second consecutive scoreless and hitless outing en route to his third save of 2024. With the Nationals still in the basement of the National League, Finnegan likely won't have much room to grow from his 28-save total in 2023, but he appears to be locked in as the club's closer in the early part of the campaign.

Finnegan picked up the save during Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Pirates. He didn't allow a hit or a walk during one inning while striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

Finnegan bounced back from a three-run, two-homer blown save on March 31 to deliver the Nationals their second win of the season and nail his second save. The rebound performance likely adds a little length back to Finnegan's hypothetical leash, with Hunter Harvey sitting behind him as a solid replacement arm if the Nats don't feel Finnegan is up to par.

Finnegan (0-1) blew the save and took the loss Sunday against the Reds. He allowed three runs on three hits and no walks with no strikeouts over two-thirds of an inning.

EDGE Analysis

Finnegan began his outing Sunday by promptly generating two outs via lineouts and looked well on his way to a second save in as many days. However, the Reds lineup had a different idea as the next three batters each produced an extra-base hit. Finnegan yielded a double to Jonathan India, a game-tying homer to Will Benson and a walk-off homer to Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Finnegan didn't have the strongest grip on the Nationals' closer job before this game, so keep an eye on this bullpen, as Hunter Harvey could easily enter the discussion for saves in Washington.

Finnegan allowed one walk and struck out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning against the Reds on Saturday en route to his first save of the season.

EDGE Analysis

Finnegan faced a late challenge to his Opening Day availability in the form of back tightness, and he just so happened to take a comebacker off his ankle in his return to Grapefruit League action March 21. Despite those setbacks, Finnegan managed to start the season on time and he now has his first save of the new campaign. Hunter Harvey allowed two runs in the eighth inning but was credited with the win after Alexis Diaz squandered the lead for Cincinnati in the top of the ninth.

Finnegan (back) allowed one earned run on three hits with one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins. He was struck on his right foot by a comebacker in the top of the seventh inning but quickly waved off the training staff and insisted he was fine, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander was fortunate that the comebacker struck the padded portion of the heel of his right shoe, absorbing the impact. Finnegan had been sidelined for over a week due to lower-back tightness, but he said after Thursday's appearance that he felt "great" physically. While he has Hunter Harvey breathing down his neck for save chances, Finnegan appears in line to open the season as the primary closer in Washington. He's expected to make one more appearance this spring to prepare for Opening Day.

Finnegan has been unavailable lately due to back tightness but will throw a bullpen session Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Assuming he comes out of Monday's session with no issues, Finnegan will pitch in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. The right-hander is at the top of the Nationals' bullpen hierarchy but could face some competition for saves from Hunter Harvey.

Finnegan threw three sweepers at 84-85 mph among his 15 pitches during Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 32-year-old right-hander has gotten solid results in his big-league career with a fastball that averaged 97.3 mph in 2023 along with a a splitter and occasional slider that both sit about 90 mph, but Finnegan worked this offseason to add something slower to his arsenal to give batters a different look. The early results Wednesday with the sweeper were encouraging, as one of them generated an awkward swing on strike three from Ceddanne Rafaela. Finnegan threw his fastball 70 percent of the time last year and that likely isn't going to change, but the sweeper could help boost a strikeout rate that sunk to a career-low 21.9 percent. After recording a career-high 28 saves in 2023, Finnegan will be in the closing mix this season for the Nationals along with Hunter Harvey and potentially Tanner Rainey.

Finnegan agreed to a one-year contract with the Nationals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Finnegan served as the Nationals' primary closer in 2023, recording 28 saves. He had an uneven performance overall, however, posting a 3.76 ERA and 1.30 WHIP to go along with a 63:24 K:BB across 69.1 innings. He'll likely begin the 2024 campaign in the ninth-inning role, but Hunter Harvey could overtake him fairly quickly.

Finnegan picked up his 28th save of the year in a 10-9 win over Atlanta on Sunday. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out one over an inning.

EDGE Analysis

Finnegan was spotted a two-run lead after the Nationals were able to climb ahead in the top of the ninth. He allowed a solo home run to Marcell Ozuna and Michael Harris followed up with a double, but Finnegan was able to retire the next two batters to put a cap on the season with a win. The 31-year-old finishes 2023 with a 3.76 ERA and 63:24 K:BB in 69.1 innings and should be the frontrunner to close again for the Nationals next year as long as he isn't traded.

Finnegan allowed a run on one hit over one inning and earned the save in a 3-2 win over Atlanta in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.

EDGE Analysis

Finnegan added a little drama after allowing a solo home run to Sean Murphy, but he was able to preserve the Nationals' lead. This was Finnegan's second save in a row, and he's allowed 10 runs (nine earned) over 8.2 innings in a shaky September. He's at a 3.74 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 61:24 K:BB through 67.1 innings while adding 27 saves, eight holds and eight blown saves this season.