Riley Cornelio - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Works into third as Tuesday's opener Cornelio allowed one hit and three walks while striking out four batters across 2.2 innings while serving as the Nationals' opener in the team's 3-1 win over the Tigers on Tuesday.

Impact Tuesday was Cornelio's third start of the season, and although he ran his pitch count up to 60 (33 strikes), he did enough to keep the Tigers off the board until turning the keys over to Jackson Kent in the third frame. Cornelio has a 3.89 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 38:28 K:BB across 34.2 major-league innings this season, with the 26-year-old right-hander also spending time in the minors with Triple-A Rochester.

2 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

CJ Abrams homers twice, drives in three runs as Nationals beat Tigers 3-1

CJ Abrams hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and added a solo shot to give the Washington Nationals a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night

15 HOURS AGO • Associated Press

Working as opener Cornelio will be the Nationals' opener for Tuesday's game in Detroit, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Impact Cornelio was used as a starting pitcher some earlier this season in the minors and has recorded more than three outs in 13 of 16 appearances for the Nationals, so he'll be capable of covering multiple innings, if needed. Jackson Kent is poised to fill a bulk relief role Tuesday.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Earns relief win in extras Saturday Cornelio (3-2) earned the win in extra innings against the Cardinals on Saturday after allowing two unearned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two over 1.2 innings.

Impact Cornelio entered the game in the 10th inning and allowed the automatic runner to score on Masyn Winn's game-tying single. He returned in the 11th with a four-run cushion but again allowed the automatic runner to score on J.J. Wetherholt's RBI single. Cornelio loaded the bases with no outs, then struck out Ivan Herrera and Jordan Walker before making way for Will Dion, who recorded the final out and earned the save. Cornelio hasn't allowed earned runs in any of his last four outings and has pitched well since the All-Star break, posting a 1.86 ERA with a 22:13 K:BB across 19.1 innings in his last 10 appearances.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Nationals score 4 runs in 11th in an 8-5 victory over the Cardinals

Washington successfully challenged for catcher’s interference with the bases loaded in a four-run 11th inning in the Nationals’ 8-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday...

3 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Fares well behind opener Cornelio didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Phillies, striking out one while allowing no hits and two walks in 2.2 relief innings.

Impact Opener Jared Simpson couldn't find the plate Wednesday, walking four in one-third of an inning, but Cornelio helped settle things down out of the bullpen before handing things over to Will Dion. The Nationals don't appear to be ready to expand his workload, however, as Cornelio has not yet reached the 50-pitch marker in any of his last four outings since being recalled from the minor leagues. He has a 4.45 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 32:24 K:BB in 30.1 major-league innings this year.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Nationals Not Closing Door on Using Riley Cornelio in Crucial Role Next Season With the 2027 campaign winding to a close, the Washington Nationals are assessing everything. As they try to push the right buttons this upc...

SEPTEMBER 14 • SI.COM

Cornelio continues to thrive in opener role as Nats sweep Halos WASHINGTON -- As Riley Cornelio's rookie season winds down, the Nationals are intrigued by seeing the right-hander in different roles while...

SEPTEMBER 13 • MLB.COM

Fans four as Sunday's opener Cornelio allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four across two scoreless innings as the Nationals' opener in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Angels.

Impact Cornelio struck out two batters in each of the two frames he pitched in, keeping the Angels off the board before turning things over to Jake Irvin for the third frame. Cornelio has been the Nationals' opener in each of his last two outings, striking out eight batters over five innings in that span. The 26-year-old right-hander could see a couple of more starts before the conclusion of the 2026 regular season.

SEPTEMBER 13 • ROTOWIRE

Working as opener Cornelio will start Sunday's game against the Angels as an opener, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Impact It will be the second start of the season for Cornelio, who pitched as an opener his previous time out Tuesday in San Diego and fired three scoreless innings. The right-handed rookie has regularly worked multiple frames for the Nationals this year, throwing at least 30 pitches in 10 of his 13 big-league appearances. Jake Irvin -- Sunday's originally scheduled starter -- could be an option to follow in bulk relief, though the Nationals have not revealed their pitching plans beyond Cornelio's starting assignment.

SEPTEMBER 13 • ROTOWIRE

Strong in start Cornelio struck out four over three perfect innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Tuesday.

Impact Cornelio worked the opening part of this bullpen game for the Nationals, but he did his job well in getting through the Padres' order cleanly on 36 pitches (24 strikes). He has functioned primarily as a long reliever this season, posting a 5.26 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 27:21 K:BB over 25.2 innings across 13 games. Cornelio's strong performance isn't likely to lead to more starts -- the Nationals have enough off days ahead to get by on a four-man rotation until Connelly Early (elbow) can come off the injured list for his team debut.

SEPTEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Machado and Campusano rally Padres past skidding Nationals 5-4 to keep pace in NL wild-card chase

Manny Machado tied the score with a two-run single in the eighth inning, Luis Campusano drove in the go-ahead run and the San Diego Padres rallied past the slumping Washington Nati...

SEPTEMBER 9 • Associated Press

Nationals play the Padres looking to stop road slide

The Washington Nationals will try to end their eight-game road losing streak in a matchup with the San Diego Padres

SEPTEMBER 8 • Associated Press

Tapped to start Tuesday Cornelio will start Tuesday's game against the Padres, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Impact Cornelio got the call from Triple-A Rochester last week and has pitched in 12 games out of the Nationals' bullpen this season, registering a 5.96 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 23:21 K:BB across 22.2 frames. He made 22 appearances with Rochester, including nine starts, and doesn't figure to throw more than a couple innings Tuesday.

SEPTEMBER 8 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals rookies make statement with 'revolutionary' outfits at start of West Coast trip Rookie traditions are still alive and well across Major League Baseball, and the Nationals began their West Coast road trip with one of thei...

SEPTEMBER 4 • MLB.COM

Ronald Acuña Jr. becomes fastest to 200 homers, 200 steals as Braves beat Nationals 9-0

Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a three-run homer to become the fastest player in major league history to reach 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington...

SEPTEMBER 2 • Associated Press

Recalled from Triple-A The Nationals recalled Cornelio from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Impact The Nationals are going with a bullpen game Wednesday against Atlanta, and Cornelio will give them a fresh relief arm. He's posted a 5.40 ERA and 20:20 K:BB over 20 frames with the big club this season.

SEPTEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Sent down Sunday Cornelio was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.

Impact Cornelio will return to Triple-A after being called up June 29. The right-hander posted a 4.63 ERA and 1.80 WHIP with 16 strikeouts over 11.2 innings in eight appearances in his second stint with the major-league roster this season, and he will now have to wait for his next shot with the Nationals. The move makes room for right-handed reliever Yovanny Cruz in the big-league bullpen after Washington acquired him and three other minor-league right-handers in return for Luis Garcia on Sunday.

AUGUST 2 • ROTOWIRE

Abrams and Wood each hit 2 homers as Nationals outslug Diamondbacks in 10-7 victory

CJ Abrams and James Wood both homered twice and drove in three runs as the Washington Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-7 to take two of three games in their weekend serie...

JULY 26 • Associated Press

Collects first big-league win Cornelio (1-1) picked up the win Monday, walking two batters over 1.2 no-hit, scoreless relief innings in a victory over the Rockies. He didn't record a strikeout.

Impact It was the 26-year-old's first career win in his eighth appearance. Control continues to elude Cornelio for the most part, as he has a 17:15 K:BB through 16.1 innings with a 6.06 ERA and 1.90 WHIP, and he'll remain in a low-leverage role as long as that continues.

JULY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Chapparo, Young and Abrams homer in Nationals' 7-3 win over Rockies

Andrés Chaparro, Jacob Young and CJ Abrams homered to lead the Washington Nationals past the Colorado Rockies 7-3

JULY 21 • Associated Press

Andrés Chaparro racks up 8 RBIs as Nationals hand A's their 10th straight loss with 23-4 rout

Andrés Chaparro went 4 for 5 with two home runs and eight RBIs as the Washington Nationals handed the Athletics their 10th straight defeat in a 23-4 romp

JULY 18 • Associated Press

Ashcraft wins 4th straight start as Pirates topple Nationals 7-1

Braxton Ashcraft won his fourth consecutive start and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Washington Nationals 7-1

JULY 4 • Associated Press

Back in big leagues The Nationals recalled Cornelio from Triple-A Rochester on Monday.

Impact Cornelio has been shaky in three appearances for the Nationals this season, logging a 6.48 ERA and 4:9 K:BB over 8.1 innings. Though most of the 26-year-old's pro experience is as a starting pitcher, he pitched in a relief role with Rochester after being sent down by the Nationals earlier this month, and he appears ticketed for the bullpen during this stint in the majors.

JUNE 29 • ROTOWIRE

Dispatched to Rochester The Nationals optioned Cornelio to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

Impact Cornelio will head back to the minors after allowing four earned runs in 6.1 innings across his two appearances since joining the big club Sunday. He now owns a 6.48 ERA and 1.92 WHIP with the Nationals but remains an option to make a spot start or provide length out of the bullpen later this summer.

JUNE 13 • ROTOWIRE

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