Williams (0-1) took the loss against Tampa Bay on Monday, completing five innings during which he allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out three batters.

EDGE Analysis

Williams fell behind early, serving up a two-run home run to Luke Raley in the first inning. By the time he departed, Washington trailed 4-0, and the Nationals didn't score their first run until the seventh. Williams pitched fairly well for the Mets in a swingman role last year, posting a 3.21 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 89.2 innings. However, his career 4.27 ERA and 7.4 K/9 don't invoke much excitement about his fantasy prospects as a full-time starter this season.

Williams will start the Nationals' fourth regular-season game next Monday against the Rays, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He'll follow Patrick Corbin, Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore in the Nats' season-opening starting rotation. Williams signed a two-year, $13 million contract with Washington over the winter after posting a steady 3.21 ERA and 84:23 K:BB across 89.2 innings (nine starts, 21 relief appearances) last year for the Mets. He could carry fantasy streaming appeal in the right matchups.

Williams gave up seven runs on 10 hits and three walks over 4.2 innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander came into the weekend having allowed only three runs across three spring starts without having walked a batter, but little was working for Williams in this outing. After posting a 4.19 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 6.8 K/9 over nine starts for the Mets last year among his 30 appearances, the 30-year-old is expected to fill a back-end role in the Nationals' rotation in 2023, but his fantasy utility will likely be limited to NL-only formats, or usage as an occasional streaming option.

Williams worked two scoreless innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, allowing one hit while striking out two without walking a batter.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander threw 20 of 23 pitches for strikes in his second outing of the spring. Williams hasn't given up a run yet through three Grapefruit League innings, and with Stephen Strasburg (ribs) lacking any kind of timetable for his return, he's set to begin the season in the Nationals' rotation. Williams posted good numbers (3.21 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 8.4 K/9) in 2022 in a swingman role for the Mets, but he'll be a fantasy risk as a full-time starter on what's expected to be a poor team engaged in a rebuild.

Williams is expected to begin the season in the Nationals' rotation, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander signed with Washington in the hopes of returning to full-time starting duty after making 21 of his 30 appearances last year for the Mets out of the bullpen, and with Stephen Strasburg experiencing a setback in his recovery from thoracic outlet surgery, Williams should be locked into a rotation spot to begin the campaign. Whether the 30-year-old is best suited for the rotation is another question, however -- his FIP was nearly two runs higher in 2022 as a starter rather than as a reliever (5.00 vs 3.03), and he lost more than seven points off his strikeout rate (18.2 percent vs. 25.8 percent).

Williams said Monday that he'll be a starter in 2023, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nine of the righty's 30 appearances in with the Mets 2022 were starts. With the Nationals, who have a far less impressive rotation, Williams will handle a more substantial workload. At two years and $13 million, he could be a bargain if he posts anything close to his 3.79 ERA over the last two seasons.

Williams agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract with the Nationals on Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 30-year-old worked as a swingman over the past two years and should fill a similar role going forward, though he could see more chances to start for Washington, especially if Stephen Strasburg (ribs) remains sidelined to open 2023. Williams started in nine of his 30 appearance last season for the Mets and had a 3.21 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 84:23 K:BB across 89.2 innings.

Williams has discussed a possible reunion with the Mets, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martino notes that the Mets are "not the only team in" on the right-hander, so it would appear they have a little competition. Williams, 30, pitched well in a swingman role in 2022, holding a 3.21 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 84:23 K:BB ratio across 89.2 innings.

Williams wasn't included on the Mets' roster for the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Friday, Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams delivered a quality start in the regular-season finale but unsurprisingly won't be in the rotation for the wild-card round. The 30-year-old had a 3.21 ERA and 84:23 K:BB over 89.2 innings this year and could receive roster consideration in later rounds as both a starter and long-relief option should the Mets advance.

Williams (3-5) earned the win Wednesday against the Nationals. He allowed two runs on six hits while striking out six over six innings.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander didn't officially make the start, but he did handle the majority of the workload on Wednesday after replacing opener Mychal Givens to begin the second inning. Williams retired the first 10 batters he faced before allowing a one-out single to Cesar Hernandez in the fifth, who then came in to score on a homer from Alex Call on the very next pitch. Williams would only allow two more batters to reach base over his final two innings. He has not allowed more than two runs in any appearance since July 2, carrying a 2.83 ERA with 45 strikeouts to only 10 walks over that stretch. That run propelled him to a strong final line for 2022, with a 3.21 ERA and 84:23 K:BB across 89.2 innings.