Nationals' Zack Littell: Takes loss as bulk reliever
Rotowire
Littell (7-8) was tagged with the loss in Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out five across five innings.
Carson Palmquist opened Friday's game and was tagged for two runs in the second inning, which both came after he was replaced by Littell. It ended up being Littell who took the loss after giving up the game-deciding run on a sacrifice fly from Gabriel Moreno in the seventh. Despite the loss, it was a nice bounce-back performance from Littell after he gave up eight runs in a loss to the Athletics this past Saturday. His next outing is slated for next week at home against the Blue Jays, though it's unclear whether he'll piggyback off an opener or start.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Set to work in bulk relief Friday
Rotowire
Littell is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Carson Palmquist in Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Littell served as a traditional starter in his last appearance Saturday in Sacramento, but he was blasted for eight runs on eight hits and four walks across six innings in a loss to the Athletics. The Nationals will look to coax better results from Littell by deploying him out of the bullpen, with the right-hander likely to take over once Palmquist covers the first inning or two. Littell has submitted a 2.94 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 11.3 K-BB% in 33.2 innings over seven bulk-relief outings this season.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Scalded for eight runs in loss
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Littell (7-7) took the loss against the Athletics on Saturday, allowing eight runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out four batters over six innings.
Littell's outing began ominously when Jacob Wilson led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run. That was one of five runs given up by the righty hurler in the first frame, so he probably deserves some kudos for ultimately making it through six innings. Nonetheless, Littell tied a season-worst mark with the eight runs he allowed, pushing his ERA up to an ugly 5.34 on the campaign. He had been showing some improvement with a 2.84 ERA and 16:3 K:BB across his final four starts before the All-Star break, but he's been very streaky this year -- in fact, the other three times he gave up eight runs came in consecutive outings in April.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Comes away with no-decision Friday
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Littell didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees, allowing one run on five hits over four innings of relief. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The veteran right-hander put together one of his better outings of the season, tossing 49 of 69 pitches for strikes after taking over in the fourth inning from opener Carson Palmquist, but the Nationals' bullpen cost Littell his eighth win of the season with another meltdown in the ninth. He's given up two runs of fewer in four straight starts, heading into the All-Star break with a 2.84 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB through 19 innings over that stretch.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Slated for bulk relief Friday
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Littell will operate as a bulk reliever for the Nationals in Friday's game versus the Yankees, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Lefty Carson Palmquist will get the ball first as the Nationals' opening pitcher, but he'll likely work just an inning or two before giving way to Littell. Littell has made 12 starts and six bulk-relief appearances this season and has fared much better in the latter role, holding a 3.03 ERA and 17:7 K:BB over 29.2 innings.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Stingy in no-decision Saturday
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Littell didn't factor into the decision Saturday as the Nationals fell 7-1 to the Pirates, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over six relief innings. He struck out three.
The veteran righty put together an impressive performance as the bulk reliever, tossing 57 of 87 pitches for strikes in the equivalent of a quality start, but opener Carson Palmquist had coughed up four runs before Littell even set foot on the mound. Littell has given up two or fewer runs in three straight outings to lower his ERA on the season to 5.02, and he's set to get his next turn through the rotation at home next weekend against the Yankees.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Following opener
Rotowire
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.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Notches seventh win
Rotowire
Littell (7-6) earned the win Sunday over the Orioles, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.
The O's took an early lead off Littell on Sunday thanks to Pete Alonso's two-run homer in the first inning. However, the right-hander held Baltimore scoreless over his final four frames while the Nats rallied for an eventual 6-4 victory. Littell, who worked as a traditional starter Sunday after appearing in bulk relief in his last outing against the Phillies, sports a 5.29 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP and 49:25 K:BB across 80 innings this season. He's tentatively lined up to face the Pirates at home his next time out.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Fans seven over seven innings
Rotowire
Littell (4-4) earned the win Monday against the Guardians, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over seven innings.
Following opener PJ Poulin, who surrendered one run across two innings, Littell took over and finished out the game, turning in his best outing of the season. The veteran right-hander threw 70 of his 106 pitches for strikes while setting season highs in both innings pitched and strikeouts with seven apiece. Littell has quietly been excellent throughout May, posting a 2.19 ERA across five appearances during the month. Despite the strong recent stretch, his overall season line still sits at a 5.23 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 30:17 K:BB across 53.1 innings. Littell is scheduled to face San Diego on Sunday in his next start.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Following opener Monday
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Littell is slated to follow an opener in Monday's game against the Guardians, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
Left-hander PJ Poulin will open things for the Nationals before Littell carries the bulk of the workload. Littell had a rough April but has settled in in May, posting a 2.55 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 7:4 K:BB over 17.2 frames covering two starts and two bulk-relief appearances.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Blanks O's in second win
Rotowire
Littell (2-4) picked up the win in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Orioles, allowing two hits and two walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out three.
The 30-year-old right-hander put together his best performance of the season on 87 pitches (49 strikes), as Littell lasted at least five innings for the first time since April 22 and didn't serve up a homer for only the third time in nine trips to the mound. After a ghastly April, Littell has found a rhythm in May, posting a 2.13 ERA. 0.95 WHIP and 4:4 K:BB though 12.2 innings over three appearances, two of them as a bulk reliever. He'll look to keep rolling in his next turn through the rotation, which lines up to come at home next week against the Mets.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Goes four innings in bulk relief
Rotowire
Littell did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk without recording a strikeout over four innings.
Littell entered with a 4-0 lead but was unimpressive behind the opener, generating just two swinging strikes on 69 pitches and failing to register a strikeout for the first time this season. While the 30-year-old is not known for his ability to get whiffs, he's now induced just three total punchouts over his last four outings while working in bulk relief during his past two. He owns an ugly 6.94 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 17:13 K:BB across 36.1 innings so far in 2026. Should Littell draw a start in his next appearance, it would likely come at home against Baltimore next weekend.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Pitching in bulk relief Sunday
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Littell is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opener PJ Poulin in Sunday's game against the Brewers, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Poulin is expected pitch one or two innings before giving way to Littell, who will work behind an opener for the second time this season. The Nationals are hoping that the arrangement will yield better results from the veteran right-hander, who has an 8.37 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in 23.2 innings over his last five starts.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Hammered for eight runs in loss
Rotowire
Littell (0-4) took the loss Tuesday against the Mets, surrendering eight runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks with one strikeout across 3.2 innings.
Littell has now been tagged for eight runs in each of his last three starts and has given up an astonishing 25 earned runs and 13 homers across 28.2 innings this season. Both of those numbers are the most in the league. It's fair to wonder how much longer Washington will trot out the right-hander to make starts. He gave up long balls to Bo Bichette and Juan Soto on Tuesday and now owns a hideous 7.85 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 16:11 K:BB across six appearances. His 9.06 FIP and 7.96 xERA suggest Littell has somehow pitched even worse than his numbers would suggest.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Crushed by long ball again
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Littell (0-3) took the loss Wednesday against Atlanta, allowing eight runs (six earned) on seven hits (four home runs) and two walks in six innings. He struck out one.
After serving up the second-most homers in the major leagues a year ago, Littell is being plagued by the long ball once again in 2026. The right-hander tied his career worst in homers allowed Wednesday, and he's now been tagged for multiple big flies in all but one of his first five starts of the year en route to giving up an MLB-high 11 round-trippers so far. Though the Mets rank near the bottom of the majors in homers (17) through their first 24 games, Littell still won't be a recommended fantasy option when he takes a 7.56 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 15:8 K:BB through 25 frames into his next scheduled start in Queens.
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Giants' Heliot Ramos: Hits three-run blast vs. Washington
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Ramos went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and an additional RBI during the Giants' 10-5 win over the Nationals on Friday.
Ramos got the Giants on the board with a three-run home run off Zack Littell in the second inning, and the former was responsible for San Francisco's 10th and final run after drawing a bases-loaded walk in the ninth. Ramos has recorded at least one hit in eight of his last 10 outings, and over that span he has gone 9-for-34 (.265) with nine RBI.
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Giants' Matt Chapman: Collects three RBI Friday
Rotowire
Chapman went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored during the Giants' 10-5 win over the Nationals on Friday.
Chapman extended the Giants' lead to 5-0 after a two-run single off Zack Littell in the second inning, and the third baseman drove in another run in the fourth. It was the seventh multi-hit game of the season for Chapman, and his three hits tied a season high that he set April 7 against the Phillies. His 23 hits are tied for ninth in the National League, and he has opened the 2026 season slashing .291/.333/.405 with 11 runs scored, one home run and 11 RBI over 84 plate appearances.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Allows three homers in no-decision
Rotowire
Littell didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Brewers, allowing three runs on six hits and no walks while striking out three in five innings of work.
Littell had a solid outing Sunday, but he made three mistakes that the Brewers punished for solo home runs that cost him a chance at a win. The good news is that those were the only three runs he surrendered in the game, as he was sharp and efficient otherwise, working through five innings in just 71 pitches. That brought Littell's season ERA to 4.20 with a 1.40 WHIP, 10 strikeouts and five walks in 15.0 innings pitched. Home runs have been an early problem for the right-hander, who has now allowed five on the season so far.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Fans six in first start
Rotowire
Littell didn't factor into the decision Monday against the Cardinals, allowing one run on four hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out six.
Littell coughed up three runs to the Phillies in first appearance of the season as a reliever, but he showed improvement as a starter Monday. The right-hander yielded a lone extra-base hit but was able to throw only 70 pitches, the latter of which is likely because he didn't sign with the Nationals until early March. Littell tentatively lines up to face the Brewers in his next scheduled start over the weekend, and he'll be hoping to further stretch himself out.
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Nationals' Zack Littell: Stuck with loss in Nats debut
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Littell (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks over five innings of relief as the Nationals were downed 3-2 by the Phillies. He struck out one.
After PJ Poulin worked a scoreless first inning as the opener, Littell took the mound and lasted 75 pitches (53 strikes) while serving up solo shots to Kyle Schwarber in the third inning and Adolis Garcia in the fourth. Littell didn't sign with the Nats until early March, so Tuesday's usage likely has more to do with the fact that the right-hander wasn't quite stretched out yet, rather than being a sign that he'll be used as a primary pitcher behind an opener on a regular basis. Littell is expected to make his next appearance at home early next week against the Cardinals.
