Nationals LHP Jackson Kent attracts first profession begin in conflict vs. Cubs

Washington pitching prospect Jackson Kent will make his major league debut when the Nationals host the Chicago Cubs in the second contest of the teams’ three-game series on Wednesday night.

The 23-year-old left-hander was Washington’s fourth-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and is the Nationals eighth-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com.

Kent was 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA in seven starts at Double-A Harrisburg before a promotion to Rochester, where he was 8-3 with a 4.38 ERA. He has 105 strikeouts in 94 1/3 innings overall this season.

“I’ve gotten to see him, albeit via video, in the minor leagues,” Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “And obviously what he’s done has jumped off the page to a lot of people. I’m excited to see him get an opportunity up here (Wednesday).”

In his debut, Kent will oppose veteran left-hander David Peterson (6-7, 5.35 ERA) of the Cubs.

Acquired from the Mets in June, Peterson allowed 10 earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in his second start for the Cubs, a 17-1 loss on July 3. Since then, however, he has a 2-0 record with 1.57 ERA, and Chicago is 4-1 in his starts.

Last time out, Peterson allowed one run on seven hits and three walks in five innings of a no-decision in a 3-2, 11-inning victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. The only run against Peterson scored when he was called for balk after throwing to first three times, attempting to pick off George Springer.

Peterson is 8-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 16 games (13 starts) vs. the Nationals.

In the series opener on Tuesday, the Cubs built an 8-4 lead and held on for an 8-6 win.

Alex Bregman, Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong hit home runs for the Cubs, who have won seven of their past eight games. Chicago scored in five of the first six innings.

“I think that’s our offense at its best, really,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We didn’t maybe put up the big number, or get the big hit — the home run with men on base or the double with men on base — but man, those first five innings, we made it really hard on them every single inning.”

Bregman had two hits and a walk and scored three runs. He has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games, batting .359 with eight doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs and 16 runs.

“Fortunate enough to put a good swing on a good pitch and got one to sneak over,” Bregman said of his home run.

Washington got home runs from CJ Abrams, Jacob Young and Dylan Crews. Abrams’ two-run shot gave him 29 homers and 91 RBIs for the season, tying Ian Desmond (2014) for the most RBIs by a shortstop in a season in Nationals history (2005-present).

Brady House had three hits and a walk. It was his first three-hit game since being recalled from Rochester in late July.

“We know what (House) can do with how hard he hits the ball, and tonight he had some softer hits,” Butera said. “I was impressed by that because he was able to move some balls forward, not in like perfect swings or perfect timing.”

The Nationals did not announce a corresponding move for the Kent promotion on Tuesday night, but multiple media outlets reported that after the game, 37-year-old right-hander Miles Mikolas (3-9, 5.82 ERA) was saying goodbye to teammates and coaches in the clubhouse.

–Field Level Media