Nationals DFA Miles Mikolas, add LHP Jackson Kent

Coming off his best outing in a month's time, veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas was designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.

In a corresponding move, the Nationals selected the contract of left-hander Jackson Kent from Triple-A Rochester. Kent, who ranks the No. 8 Nationals prospect in MLB Pipeline's rankings, is slated to start in his major league debut Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs.

Mikolas' first season with the Nationals has been rough, with the 11-year MLB veteran going 3-9 with a 5.82 ERA over 25 appearances (11 starts). Mikolas, 37, has been in and out of the rotation all season after making three consecutive starts to open the campaign.

His second ever start for the Nationals came on April 3 when he was crushed for 11 runs on 11 hits over 4 1/3 innings by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was moved into the bullpen just over a week later.

His most recent start came last Thursday when he gave up six runs on 12 hits over five innings against the Philadelphia Phillies. On Tuesday, Mikolas gave up one run over three relief innings in an 8-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

In 266 career appearances (224 starts), Mikolas is 75-84 with a 4.37 ERA for the San Diego Padres (2012-13), Texas Rangers (2014), St. Louis Cardinals (2018-25) and Nationals. He pitched in Japan from 2015-17 and did not pitch in 2020 because of injury.

Kent, 23, is a fourth-round draft pick in 2024 who was a combined 9-4 with a 3.72 ERA over 20 starts at two minor league levels this season.

--Field Level Media