Doug Fister is 5-0 with a 1.83 ERA since his delayed, rough Nationals debut

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Doug Fister’s debut for the Nationals was delayed until mid-May by a season-opening stint on the disabled list, but now he’s healthy and showing why so many people thought Washington pulled off a great trade getting him from Detroit this offseason.

Fister shut out the Giants for seven innings last night, improving to 5-1 with a 2.68 ERA in seven starts. And those great overall numbers include a rough first outing on May 9, after which Fister has gone 5-0 with a 1.83 ERA.

Fister has always had very good control, but he’s basically stopped walking batters at this point. He’s handed out three free passes in 44 innings and has a nifty 31/3 K/BB ratio. No wonder the Nationals wanted to sign him to a long-term contract extension as soon as they made the swap with the Tigers.

Cardinals sign pitcher Miles Mikolas to 3-year, $55.75M deal

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Rhona Wise/USA TODAY Sports
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ST. LOUIS — Miles Mikolas is sticking with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The right-hander signed a three-year, $55.75 million contract on Friday that will carry through the 2025 season.

The new deal replaces a $68 million, four-year contract signed in February 2019 that covered the 2020-23 seasons and was set to pay $15.75 million this year.

Mikolas will receive a $5 million signing bonus payable July 1 and will make $18.75 million in 2023 and $16 million in each of the following two seasons. Mikolas can earn a $250,000 bonus for winning a Cy Young Award, $50,000 for All-Star election or selection or winning a Gold Glove, $100,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $150,000 for World Series MVP.

Mikolas is scheduled to make the second opening-day start of his big league career next Thursday when the Cardinals host Toronto. Mikolas went 12-13 with a 3.29 ERA last season while helping St. Louis to the NL Central title.

“Miles stands among the top pitchers in the game today, and has continued to provide a steady presence for us both in the rotation and inside the clubhouse,” St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement.

Mikolas is 45-40 with a 3.79 in 143 games with San Diego, Texas and St. Louis. He recently pitched six shutout innings in two appearances for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic.