Zack Littell
Breakdown
Performance
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May 3, 2026
Gets into win column
Littell (1-4) earned the win Sunday against the Brewers, allowing one run on one hit and one walk in 3.2 innings. He struck out one.
Analysis
Working behind opener PJ Poulin on Sunday, Littell quietly gave the Nationals one of his better performances of 2026 in long relief. It was just the right-hander's second appearance of the year with fewer than three runs allowed, and he kept the ball in the yard for just the second time in seven outings this season. Littell still has a rough 7.24 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 17:12 K:BB over 32.1 innings, so fantasy managers can likely find more appealing streaming options.
May 3, 2026
Pitching in bulk relief Sunday
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.
Analysis
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.
April 29, 2026
Hammered for eight runs in loss
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.
Analysis
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.
