The Washington Nationals are gearing up for the season with a close look at their new pitcher, Zack Littell. With less than two weeks until Opening Day, Littell is set to make his first start, and the big question is whether he can ramp up his stamina to hit that 70-80 pitch count. It's a tight schedule, but the Nationals are hopeful.
Unfortunately, there's no radio or TV coverage for this one, so fans will need to rely on the MLB Gameday App for updates unless the Nationals provide a video feed from the press box.
Littell is confident in his role, stating, “I’m a starter. I came here to start.
I had some other offers that were going to let me start... I’ve kind of proven that I can start and belong in the rotation.
So the opportunity was presented here, and it’s definitely what I wanted to do.”
Meanwhile, the bullpen is buzzing with competition. After Rule-5 pickup Griff McGarry notched a save despite a shaky start, the question remains: is facing lower-level minor leaguers enough to gauge his potential?
The bullpen battle includes Julian Fernandez, Andre Granillo, Orlando Ribalta, Paxton Schultz, Gus Varland, and Ken Waldichuk, all vying for limited spots. PJ Poulin, Clayton Beeter, and Cole Henry seem like locks for the bullpen, with Jackson Rutledge likely in the mix, and Brad Lord and Mitchell Parker also in contention.
That's 13 pitchers fighting for eight spots.
The Nationals boast an 11-4 record with three ties in their first 18 games, plus a win against Venezuela’s WBC team, bringing them to 12-4. Yet, as seasoned fans know, Spring Training records don't always predict regular-season success.
With only 18 Spring Training games and one exhibition in the books, no Nationals batter has more than 28 plate appearances, and no pitcher has logged more than 9 innings. As the games progress, expect more action from the starters.
While some offensive stats are less than stellar, it's important to approach them with a balanced perspective. There are lessons in both the highs and lows, and it's crucial to focus on the process as much as the results.