Nationals hurler DJ Herz makes impressive history in third career start

According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Herz's performance is a rare feat. He is only the second pitcher since 1901 to record 13 or more strikeouts with zero walks in one of their first three career outings.

The other? Former Nationals ace and 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg. The three-time All-Star struck out 14 batters in his major league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010.

The 23-year-old was locked in from the start, dazzling the Marlins with his nasty cutter, changeup and an overpowering four-seam fastball Miami simply couldn't touch. Herz struck out seven of nine batters his first time through the lineup, setting down the side in order in the third. 

Herz never had a 13-strikeout performance before his jump to MLB. Over parts of four minor league seasons, the most K's he'd recorded in a game was 12 (once), while he posted double-digits five times overall.  

An eighth-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Terry Sanford High School, Herz made his way to the Nationals via trade in July 2023. He started the year with Triple-A Rochester, going 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA in nine starts before being called up on June 4. 

Herz's first two starts in the majors were a mixed bag, going 0-1 while allowing a combined six earned runs with eight strikeouts over 8.1 innings. He'll make his fourth start on June 21 at the Colorado Rockies.