Cade Cavalli flirts with perfection as the Washington Nationals stomp the Cubs

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 13: Cade Cavalli #24 of the Washington Nationals high-fives teammates in the dugout after allowing only one hit in eight innings pitched against Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on August 13, 2026. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Cade Cavalli had an outstanding performance for the Washington Nationals, coming close to a no-hitter and dominating the Chicago Cubs. The right-handed pitcher started the game with a no-hit performance, striking out 10 batters over 6.2 innings. He flirted with a perfect game before giving up a bloop single to Michael Busch in the 6.2 innings. Cavalli's 2.43 ERA over his last 10 starts and his ability to go at least 7 innings in his past 7 starts have been remarkable.

After a slow start, the Nationals turned things around with support from Abimelec Ortiz, who hit his third home run in the last four games. Ortiz's performance, combined with Cavalli's master class pitching, contributed to the Nationals securing a 5-0 victory. The win not only averted a sweep but also gave the team a 4-2 homestand, putting them in a good position moving forward.