Alvarez-Stubbs battery's spotless debut goes down in Nats history

WASHINGTON – For the first time since 2008, a Nationals starting pitcher and catcher made their Major League debuts in the same game. If there were any first-day nerves, left-hander Andrew Alvarez and C.J. Stubbs didn’t show them.

The battery took a no-hitter into the fifth inning in the Nationals’ 2-0 win over the Marlins on Monday afternoon at Nationals Park. Alvarez became the first pitcher in Nats team history (2005-present) to throw at least five scoreless frames in his Major League debut. Behind the plate, Stubbs is the first catcher in Nationals team history to catch a shutout in his debut and the first in baseball to do so since the Athletics' Sean Murphy (Sept. 4, 2019), per Elias Sports Bureau.

“We’ll be able to share that for the rest of our lives,” said Stubbs, 28.

The Nationals selected Alvarez’s contract from Triple-A Rochester when rosters expanded to 28 on Monday. They had selected Stubbs’ contract two days earlier after catcher Drew Millas was placed on the 10-day IL (fractured and dislocated left second finger). The pair had worked together on the Red Wings, and their familiarity translated onto the field.

“Having that connection made me even more comfortable and calm,” said Alvarez, 26. “It was awesome. I’m stoked for him. He caught a heck of a game. That’s his win right there.”

Alvarez did not allow a hit until one out in the fifth with a runner on first (walk) when Victor Mesa Jr., singled on a line drive into left field. After Javier Sanoja reached first base on a forceout, Alvarez struck out Joey Wiemer on a foul tip to win a nine-pitch battle.

“He was very composed,” interim manager Miguel Cairo said of Alvarez. “He was throwing strikes -- that’s something that we love -- [and] mixing his pitches really good. … [Stubbs] knows what [Alvarez] likes to throw, and they followed the plan that they had and they did a really good job.”

Alvarez concluded his debut with one hit, no runs, two walks and four strikeouts on 81 pitches (44 strikes) across five innings. He joined Mitchell Parker (April 15, 2024, at Dodgers), Stephen Strasburg (June 8, 2010, vs. Pirates), Luis Atilano (April 23, 2010, vs. Dodgers), Jordan Zimmermann (April 20, 2009, vs. Braves) and Collin Balester (July 1, 2008, at Marlins) as the sixth starter in Nats team history to earn the ‘W’ in his debut.

“He's a great pitcher,” said right-hander Brad Lord (and former Minor League teammate). “He's got really good stuff, got really good breaking balls, good changeup. He's a true competitor. He goes out there, competes and just gives it his all every outing.”

The Nationals picked selected Alvarez, 26, in the 12th round of the 2021 Draft out of Cal Poly. He was named the Nats 2023 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. This season, Alvarez went 3-7 with a 4.10 ERA, 114 strikeouts and 52 walks in 25 Triple-A starts. Leading up to his promotion, he went 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA and a .170 opponents’ batting average in his six starts since July 29.

“Warming up out there, I was getting a little emotional,” said Alvarez. “You work so hard for that opportunity, and I’m just so grateful. To be out there and to represent the Nationals is an honor, and I’m very thankful.”

Stubbs joined the Nationals organization as a Minor League free agent on May 14, 2024. He was a 2019 10th-round pick of the Astros out of the University of Southern California. This season, Stubbs batted .148 with seven doubles, one triple, three home runs and 15 RBIs in 66 games between Double-A and Triple-A.

“I couldn’t have imagined making my debut a month ago, if I’m being honest,” Stubbs said. “And I’m really glad to be here.”

The last Nationals starting pitcher and catcher to debut on the same day were Shairon Martis and Luke Montz on Sept. 4, 2008. In Major League Baseball, the last time a battery debuted on the same day was Quinn Priester and Endy Rodríguez of the Pirates on July 17, 2023, per Elias Sports Bureau.

“I was having chills because I was excited for them,” said Cairo. “... All the hard work that they did in the Minor Leagues and coming here and pitching like that and catching like that, it’s an awesome feeling as a player, as a human being.”