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Varland has a 2.76 ERA with eight saves and a 39/12 K/BB ratio in 29 1/3 innings at Triple-A. He will try to see if he can carry any of that success over into the big leagues to bring down his 6.82 ERA from 31 2/3 innings earlier this season.

Nationals manager Blake Butera told reporters Trevor Williams (elbow) will be activated from the injured list to pitch in relief. Varland allowed three runs and failed to record an out against the Blue Jays in his first outing back in the big leagues since late June.

Varland gets the call to replace lefty Andrew Albers in Washington’s relief mix prior to Tuesday’s contest against Toronto. The 29-year-old has compiled an underwhelming 6.25 ERA across 31 2/3 innings in the big leagues this season.

Varland entered in the ninth inning on Thursday against the Phillies with the score tied 5-5. He served up a two-run homer to Bryce Harper, an RBI double to J.T. Realmuto and a two-run blast to Derek Hill in his lone inning of work. That appeared to have been the final straw. Varland and his 6.25 ERA will attempt to get back on track at the Triple-A level.

With Clayton Beeter having thrown on back-to-back days, Varland was called on to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning on Tuesday. He allowed a solo home run to Lane Thomas but no other damage and picked up his sixth save of the season. Varland came into today with an 8.53 ERA in his last eight games, so we still expect Beeter to get the majority of save opportunities in this bullpen going forward.

Clayton Beeter, who has reemerged as the favorite for saves in D.C., entered in the seventh and wound up with the win despite allowing two runs in the eighth, giving the Giants a 3-1 lead. The Nationals, though, came back with three in the top of the ninth, and Varland shut the door from there. We’re not sure any Nationals reliever is worth rostering in 10- or 12-team leagues at the moment, but Beeter is probably still the best bet of the group. Varland’s save was his first since May 7.

Varland was pulled from a 7-4 game with the bases loaded, and Clayton Beeter bailed him out. Varland hasn’t taken any blown saves in his opportunities to close, but his stock has declined after a shaky month in which the Nationals have often chosen to play matchups late in games. His fourth and most recent save came on May 7, and he’s given up five earned runs in 7 1/3 innings in eight appearances since. Beeter went on to get the save today.

Varland came in with two outs in the eighth and gave up a single to Byron Buxton before slamming the door in a two-run game. He was removed from a save opportunity for matchup purposes in Sunday’s game, but he’s very clearly the favorite for saves in D.C. right now.

Varland is now in sole possession of the Nationals team lead in saves with three. Clayton Beeter (forearm) is sidelined, which presents a runway for Varland to potentially seize the ninth-inning job. He’s given up some hard contact this year but is also missing just enough bats to be effective regardless. He easily throws the most strikes in the Nationals’ bullpen.

Varland struck out one and needed just 10 pitches to handle the bottom of the eighth, which followed seven scoreless frames from Foster Griffin. It isn’t closer usage, but Varland’s chances at the ninth-inning job increased Sunday when Clayton Beeter went to the IL with forearm soreness. Paxton Schultz eventually earned the save in extras, but Varland looks to have the inside edge in an uninspiring committee.

The Nationals brought in Clayton Beeter with one on and one out in the eighth tonight, and he got out of that to protect a one-run lead. Instead of keeping him in for the ninth after just eight pitches, the Nationals again went to Varland, who got his first career save Sunday with Beeter unavailable after working the previous two days. Varland gave up a Konnor Griffin double with one out and then walked Joey Bart, but he was able to strike out Oneil Cruz and get Nick Yorke, who hit for Brandon Lowe against a lefty in the seventh, to pop out to end the game. Varland has given up three runs in six innings to start the year, while Beeter, who also has two saves, is at three runs in 8 1/3 innings. The Nationals are going to need to commit to one of the two to make either useful in mixed leagues.

Clayton Beeter was off today after working the previous two days. Cole Henry seemed like he might be the primary fallback, but he came in mid-batter in the seventh today after a Ken Waldichuk injury and finished off a walk to Brice Turang before walking William Contreras and giving up a homer to Gary Sánchez. So, that won’t help his stock. The interesting thing there is that he was allowed to be removed after the homer, even though he officially faced just two batters; the initial walk was credited to Waldichuk yet still counted as far as the three-batter rule for Henry. PJ Poulin got four outs after replacing Henry, and Varland did a fine job in retiring Joey Ortiz, Turang and Contreras. Varland, who has allowed three runs in five innings, probably will be a factor in the ninth for the Nationals if Beeter struggles or gets hurt.

The Diamondbacks tried to slide Varland through waivers last week, but with the Nationals’ desperate for quality bullpen depth they were ready and eager to pull the trigger. The 29-year-old right-hander posted a 3.42 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 27/8 K/BB ratio over 26 1/3 innings between the Dodgers and White Sox in 2025.

Varland was claimed off waivers from the White Sox in August but then spent the rest of the season in Triple-A. The 29-year-old has a 4.82 ERA and a 47/24 K/BB in 46 2/3 with the Brewers, Dodgers and White Sox the last two years.