Disparate paths meet in LA as Nats hurlers Kent, Sinclair show promise

The Nationals’ 5-3 loss to the Dodgers on Friday night showcased two different paths in Washington’s pitching development, with Jackson Kent taking center stage and Jack Sinclair making his delayed MLB debut. Kent, 23 and Washington’s No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was in his fifth major league start and had the benefit of a confidence-building seven-inning win over Miami on Aug. 28. Against Los Angeles, he held the Dodgers hitless through two innings but struggled with command in the third, issuing three walks that helped Mookie Betts drive in a run and Teoscar Hernández add extra damage. Kent finished with four hits, three earned runs, four walks and four strikeouts over five innings. Sinclair, 27, reached the majors after a longer route as a 2021 16th-round pick, including a push to a 99 mph fastball and an added cutter after offseason work, following a strong Triple-A run with a 0.87 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.