Cishek announced his retirement Friday, Rich Maclone of The Bourne Enterprise reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 35-year-old right spent 13 seasons in the majors, most recently posting a 4.21 ERA in 66.1 frames for the Nationals last season. He'll retire with a lifetime 2.98 ERA and 133 saves.

Cishek (1-2) picked up the win Sunday against Atlanta, working 1.2 scoreless innings of relief without allowing a hit or a walk and striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

A hit by pitch was the only blemish on his line. In what was a bullpen day for the Nationals, Cishek entered the game with one out in the fourth inning to protect a 4-3 lead and wound up being deemed the team's most effective pitcher by the official scorer to get credit for the win. The 36-year-old has a 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and solid 25.7 percent strikeout rate -- his best mark since 2018 -- on the season, and if new closer Kyle Finnegan falters, Cishek could see some save chances after the All-Star break.

Cishek gave up one hit and struck out two in a scoreless sixth inning Sunday to record his fifth hold of the season in a loss to Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander had gone more than a month without picking up a hold, posting a 6.17 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB through 11.2 innings in 10 appearances between his last two. Cishek remains one of the Nationals' high-leverage relievers mostly by default, and the team isn't likely to win enough games in the second half to give the 36-year-old much fantasy value even in formats that count holds.

Cishek walked one and struck out three over 1.1 scoreless innings Friday to record his fourth hold of the season in a win over the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

The hold was the first in over a month for the sidearmer, but that's due to a lack of opportunity rather than poor performance. Cishek has a 2.16 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB through 16.2 innings since the beginning of May, solidifying a spot among the Nationals' high-leverage arms.

Cishek gave up a hit and struck out two over 1.1 scoreless innings Sunday to record his third hold of the season in a win over the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

The sidearmer has held the opposition off the board in nine of his 11 appearances this season but been tagged for six runs in the other two, leading to a 6.00 ERA and 1.67 WHIP. Cishek's reliance on deception rather than dominant stuff makes him volatile, but Washington doesn't have many healthy, reliable high-leverage options in the bullpen right now, which will keep the veteran in a setup role -- he's currently tied with Kyle Finnegan for the team lead in holds.

Cishek (0-1) was charged with a blown save and the loss Sunday against the Pirates, coughing up three runs on three hits and a walk while recording only one out.

EDGE Analysis

Entering the game in the seventh inning with the Nationals on top 3-2, Cishek quickly made a mess of things with a bases-loaded wild pitch bringing home the tying run. The veteran reliever was expected to handle a high-leverage role for Washington this season and potentially even factor into the saves mix, but he's had a brutal start to the season with a 6.75 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 3:3 K:BB through four innings and five appearances.

Cishek was ejected from Friday's game against the Mets in the top of the fifth inning after he hit Francisco Lindor in the head with a pitch, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cishek entered Friday's matchup in the top of the fifth inning with no outs and a runner on second, and he hit Lindor with the second pitch he threw. That led to a scuffle on the field between the two teams, and the right-hander was tossed from the game since the Nationals also hit several batters during Thursday's Opening Day matchup. It's not yet clear whether the incident will lead to discipline from the league.

Cishek signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Nationals on Saturday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

After struggling with the White Sox during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Cishek bounced back with the Angels last year by logging 21 holds with a 3.42 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 68.1 innings across 74 relief appearances. Kyle Finnegan led Washington with 11 saves across the second half of the 2021 season after the team traded away Brad Hand and Daniel Hudson, but Cishek will likely be in the mix for high-leverage opportunities heading into the 2022 campaign.

Cishek picked up a hold against the White Sox on Wednesday, striking out three and allowing two hits in one scoreless inning.

EDGE Analysis

Cishek opened the frame with a punchout before allowing back-to-back singles. He then got out of the jam by striking out Jose Abreu and Yasmani Grandal to close the inning. The right-hander has been one of the Angels' most reliable bullpen arms this season, notching 20 holds while posting a 3.03 ERA and 1.51 WHIP across 67 appearances. Cishek has allowed only one earned run over his last 11.1 innings.

Cishek earned a hold against Texas on Friday, pitching a scoreless inning during which he walked one batter and struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander threw only nine of 18 pitches for strikes but got around an inning-opening walk by striking out the final two batters he faced. Cishek has emerged as the Angels' primary setup man thanks to a minuscule 0.3 HR/9 and a 3.20 ERA -- the best mark aside from closer Raisel Iglesias among the team's qualifying relievers -- on the season. However, Cishek's 57:36 K:BB across 59 innings explains his much less promising 5.09 xFIP.