Trevor Williams DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Trevor Williams has been moved up to start Sunday's contest against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Williams was expected to start during their upcoming series against the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers next week. However, with Michael Soroka (biceps) on the injured list, the Nationals will have to shift their starting pitchers. Williams made his first start of the season on April 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays. In this start, Williams allowed 10 hits and three earned runs across five innings of work. Last season, the 32-year-old held a strong 2.03 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP across 66 innings of work. However, he generated a much higher 3.17 xERA, which suggests he should see regression this summer. He should not be targeted in DFS facing a potent Arizona lineup.

According to Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic, the Washington Nationals are signing starting pitcher Trevor Williams to a two-year contract worth $14 million. The 32-year-old was limited to just 66 2/3 innings (13 starts) last summer due to a flex strain but performed very well with a 2.03 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He generated a strong 3.17 xERA and a .216 xBA which were both well above the average marks. However, he generated a modest 22.7% K rate and held a poor 22.5% whiff rate. Williams generated hard contact at an excellent 6.6% barrel rate and ground balls at a solid 44.8% rate. In 2023 across 144 1/3 frames he held a 5.55 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. While injuries limited him last summer, he showed a significant improvement and should be slated to have a spot in the rotation all summer. He is worth a look in deeper NL-only formats.

Washington Nationals right-hander Trevor Williams (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list on Friday and is starting at Wrigley Field against the hosting Chicago Cubs. Williams was looking excellent earlier this year before suffering a flexor strain in his right elbow and missing the last four months. Because of all the time away, the 32-year-old veteran will be a pretty risky fantasy streamer on the road on Friday. He was able to get up to 73 pitches in his last minor-league rehab start, though, so he should be pretty stretched out in his return to Washington's starting rotation. In his first 11 starts in 2024 before getting hurt, Williams had gone 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA (2.82 FIP) and a 1.08 WHIP with 47 strikeouts and 16 walks over his 56 2/3 innings thrown. Williams' last start for the Nats came all the way back on May 30.

MASN's Mark Zuckerman writes that it's looking good for Washington Nationals right-hander Trevor Williams (elbow) to come off the injured list to rejoin the team this weekend in Chicago at Wrigley Field for their series against the Chicago Cubs. After getting up to 73 pitches in his most recent minor-league rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, the 32-year-old appears primed to rejoin Washington's starting rotation this weekend in Chicago. Because of the fact that he has been out of action since late May with a right-flexor strain in his elbow, Williams will be a risky fantasy streamer for anyone still playing for a championship. However, Williams was having an excellent start to the year before going down, posting a perfect 5-0 record, a 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 47:16 K:BB in his 11 starts covering 56 2/3 innings.

Washington Nationals right-hander Trevor Williams (elbow) has faced live hitters twice in the last week-plus and is now scheduled to throw four innings or build up to 65 to 70 pitches in a minor-league rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday in what will be his first competitive game since May 30. Williams has been out since late May with a flexor strain in his elbow. Barring a setback during what is expected to be a brief rehab assignment, Williams could rejoin the big-league rotation to make perhaps a couple of starts at the end of September. Manager Dave Martinez has said Williams probably needs to get up to 80 pitches before he comes off the 60-day injured list, so he'll need more than one rehab start. The 32-year-old veteran had bounced back from a rough 2023 to go 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 47 K's in 56 2/3 frames over 11 starts earlier this year before getting hurt.