On the other side: Zack Littell, who was supposed to stabilize the Nationals rotation and has instead been a launching pad. He's tied his career worst in homers allowed and has surrendered an MLB-high 11 of them through his first handful of starts. The underlying numbers somehow look worse than the 5.83 ERA. The Nats just lost Jake Irvin to a 15-day IL stint with a shoulder strain, so they're stuck running Littell out there and hoping.
- Day-To-DayTyler Baum (DH) — Baum has not pitched this year due an undisclosed injury.05/08
- Day-To-DayTravis Sykora (SP) — Sykora will undergo a UCL reconstruction on his right elbow in two weeks, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayJarlin Susana (RP) — Susana underwent surgery last week to repair a right lat tear, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILJake Irvin (SP) — The Nationals placed Irvin on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right shoulder strain.05/24
- 15-Day-ILCole Henry (RP) — Henry (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester this weekend, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/15
- 15-Day-ILMax Kranick (RP) — The Nationals signed Kranick (elbow) to a one-year, $800,000 contract Tuesday and placed him on the 15-day injured list.05/08
- OutTyler Stuart (SP) — Stuart underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this week, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP) — Herz (elbow) will throw to live hitters Friday at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/15
- 60-Day-ILTrevor Williams (SP) — Williams (elbow) began pitching off a mound at the Nationals' spring training complex this weekend, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJosiah Gray (SP) — Gray (elbow) has resumed a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP) — The Nationals transferred Waldichuk (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez (RP) — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.05/08
- 10-Day-ILGabriel Arias (SS) — no05/25
Washington is 27-27 and treading water in a way that says "sell at the deadline." Their rotation is a MASH unit — Herz, Williams, Gray, Stuart, plus Irvin now — and the bullpen behind Littell is going to get worked early if the homer parade continues. The Guardians don't need to do much offensively to win this; they just need to do anything.
Cleveland is a -169 favorite for obvious reasons. The total sits at 8, which feels a touch high if Bibee pitches the way he has all month, and a touch low if Littell serves up his usual two or three souvenirs. Lean Guardians, lean under Bibee's half of the game, and hope baseball finally remembers who Tanner Bibee is.