MLB Player News

Littell will work in bulk relief during Saturday's game against the Pirates, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Carson Palmquist will open the game for the Nationals but is likely to cover an inning or two before Littell takes over. Littell has notched a 3.42 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 23.2 innings following an opener this season and a 6.07 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 56.1 innings as a traditional starter.

De La Cruz went 1-for-3 with two walks and two stolen bases in Friday's 3-0 loss to Baltimore.

De La Cruz continued to put a three-week absence due to a hamstring injury behind him, hitting safely in a sixth consecutive game (8-for-25). More promising are the two steals, his first since being activated off the injured list June 23. He's up to 12 stolen bases through 68 games this season.

Hayes (back) will stick with High-A Dayton this weekend and then have his rehab moved to Triple-A Louisville next week, MLB.com reports.

Hayes opened a rehab assignment with the Dragons on Friday, going 1-for-3 with a run scored while playing five innings at third base. He'll play an unspecified number of games for Louisville before rejoining the Reds. Given how close it is to the All-Star break, the organization may wait until after the Midsummer Classic to activate Hayes.

McCann (quadriceps) will play Saturday and Sunday for Triple-A Reno and could then rejoin the Diamondbacks, MLB.com reports.

McCann began a rehab assignment Thursday for Aces, going 0-for-4 while catching seven innings. The back-to-back games this weekend set McCann up to rejoin Arizona for Monday's game in San Diego.

Moreno went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 7-4 extra-innings loss to the Brewers.

Moreno plated Arizona's first run as part of a three-run third inning that erased Milwaukee's early 3-0 lead. He's been one of the Diamondbacks' hottest hitters of late, batting .357 (25-for-70) over the last 20 contests.

Lile went 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs and four RBI in Friday's 9-5 win over the Pirates.

The Nationals launched five homers in total on the night, with Lile and Luis Garcia both going yard twice. Lile's blasts came off Mitch Keller in the second inning and Isaac Mattson in the eighth. The long balls snapped a 23-game power drought for the 23-year-old outfielder, but Lile's bat had been showing signs of life before Friday -- he has four multi-hit performances in his last eight games, batting .333 (10-for-30) over that stretch with four doubles, six runs and six RBI.

Garcia went 2-for-4 with a walk, two home runs and three RBI in Friday's 9-5 win over the Pirates.

The Nationals launched five homers in total on the night, with Garcia and Daylen Lile both going yard twice. Garcia's blasts came in the first inning off Mitch Keller and the seventh off Isaac Mattson, and the 26-year-old infielder has slugged a stunning nine home runs in last last 13 games, a surge that has seen him produce a .415/.478/1.148 slash line with 12 runs and 17 RBI. Garcia's 18 homers on the season in just 82 games have already tied his career high, and his 62 RBI tie him for third in the majors behind only the Athletics' Nick Kurtz (66) and the Cardinals' Jordan Walker (63).

Griffin (9-2) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on four hits and a walk in five innings during a 9-5 victory over the Pirates. He struck out two.

A Bryan Reynolds solo shot in the third inning was the only blemish on Griffin's line, and the 30-year-old southpaw got lifted after 83 pitches (57 strikes) with the Nationals holding a comfortable 5-1 lead. Griffin hasn't lost a decision since May 14, going 5-0 over his last nine starts with a stellar 2.24 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 51:8 K:BB through 52.1 innings. He'll look to wrap up the first half in style in a home start against the Astros next week.

Mangum went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Nationals.

The 30-year-old continues to produce as the Pirates' regular center fielder while Oneil Cruz (hand) is on the IL. Mangum has delivered multiple hits in three straight games, and over 21 contests since Cruz went down he's slashing .358/.388/.432 with six doubles, five steals, five RBI and 10 runs. Cruz isn't expected back until the latter part of July after the All-Star break, so Mangum has at least another week-plus to play regularly.

Valdez went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Nationals.

The rookie outfielder extended his hitting streak to eight games with the performance, a stretch in which Valdez is batting a blistering .552 (16-for-29) with eight extra-base hits (three doubles, a triple and four homers), nine runs and 10 RBI. His current playing time in right field is coming while Oneil Cruz (hand) and Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) are on the shelf, but it's going to be hard for manager Derek Shelton to sit Valdez down if he's still raking when the Pirates' roster gets healthier.