Gus Varland's Nasty Fastball-Slider Combo

0:00It's April 5th. This is Washington Nationals News today, your AI-powered team coverage. The Washington Nationals pitching staff has had its share of rough patches this season, but one name standing out is Gus Varland, the 29-year-old right-hander. He's bringing a nasty fastball slider combo that jumps at the top of the zone and dives late, and he's executing it clean so far. Someone landed with the gnats after getting waived, following stints with the Dodgers and White Socks last year. He's been five days in limbo not knowing his next stop, but now he's settling in and even faced off against his old Dodgers teammate, Shohei Otani. Fans and teammates are buzzing about his poise, especially after he struck out Otani twice in this series. There's a deeper connection too. Otani wants donated big to help cover Varland's mom's cancer treatments, and she's cancer-free now. The history adds real heart to his story. Digging deeper, Varland's battled back from four surgeries and missing nearly all of

1:01last season. He's mostly a two-pitch guy, so command is everything, and he's honing that to stay ahead of hitters. With his choice to embrace confidence over doubt, Varland loves prime for high-leverage spots in DC, turning every outing into a statement.