SEAN DOOLITTLE NEWS

Looking good early Doolittle struck out two in a perfect seventh inning during Sunday's win over the Mets.

Impact The Nationals were down 2-1 when the veteran southpaw entered the game in relief of Steve Cishek with runners on first and second and nobody out, but he fired eight of nine pitches for strikes to end the threat and set the stage for a Washington rally in the eighth. Doolittle topped out at 94.9 mph with his final fastball, and the 35-year-old may have returned to something close to the form that saw him rack up 75 saves for the Nats from 2017-19. For now, Doolittle will be part of the setup crew behind Tanner Rainey, but the closer situation is volatile enough that he could find himself working the ninth before long.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Benches, bullpens clear when Nats pitch hits Mets SS Lindor

Benches and dugouts emptied and the Mets and Nationals confronted each other on the infield grass after Francisco Lindor was struck by a pitch from Steve Cishek in the fifth inning

APRIL 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Juan Soto's present, future mean most in 2022 for Nationals

No one matters as much for the Washington Nationals in 2022 and beyond than Juan Soto

MARCH 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nats skipper Martinez lobbied for night games this spring

Washington manager Dave Martinez wanted the Nationals to play more night games this spring to get players accustomed to a regular-season schedule

MARCH 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sean Doolittle, back with the Nationals, feels he has a lot to prove Doolittle returns after spending last season with the Reds and Mariners.

MARCH 16, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Cruz, Doolittle, Sánchez, Parra give Nats some experience

Nelson Cruz is a big-name DH headed to the Washington Nationals at age 41

MARCH 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Returns to Washington Doolittle agreed Monday with the Nationals on a one-year contract, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Despite posting a collective 4.71 ERA (4.90 FIP), 1.50 WHIP and a 12.4 K-BB% over the past two seasons across three different teams, the Nationals will bring Doolittle back on aN MLB deal for what will be his second stint in Washington. Though he served as a closer for much of his previous three-and-a-half-season tenure with the Nationals, Doolittle's poor production over the last couple of years means he's likely being viewed as a more of a middle-relief option heading into his age-35 campaign. Tanner Rainey, Kyle Finnegan and the newly signed Steve Cishek look to be better bets than Doolittle for saves out of the Washington bullpen.

MARCH 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Continues struggling Monday Doolittle surrendered three earned runs on four hits, two walks and a wild pitch over 1.1 innings in a loss to the Astros on Monday. He struck out two.

Impact Doolittle was by far the least effective of the four relievers called on to eat up innings after starter Yusei Kikuchi was chased before the end of the second frame. Doolittle has now given up a total of five earned runs over the two innings covering his last two appearances after starting his Mariners career with three consecutive scoreless one-inning outings.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Scoreless frame in debut Doolittle allowed three hits and recorded a strikeout over a scoreless inning in an extra-innings loss to the Royals on Friday, his Mariners debut.

Impact The veteran reliever put in some work during his one frame, but he was sharp while getting 15 of 20 pitches into the strike zone. Doolittle was serviceable during his time with the Reds this season before being placed on waivers, and his considerable experience could make him quite an asset down the stretch in a variety of relief roles.

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Added to active roster Doolittle was added to the Mariners' active roster Friday.

Impact The 34-year-old was claimed off waivers by Seattle on Thursday, and he'll join the major-league bullpen a day later after right-hander Wyatt Mills was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma. Doolittle made 45 relief appearances with the Reds before he was designated for assignment, and he posted a 4.46 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 38.1 innings while converting just one of his five save chances.

AUGUST 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Claimed by Seattle Doolittle was claimed off waivers by the Mariners on Thursday.

Impact Doolittle was cast off the Reds' 40-man roster Tuesday, but he'll join the Mariners after right-hander Keynan Middleton was designated for assignment Thursday. The southpaw has high-leverage experience but converted just one of his five save chances in 45 relief appearances with the Reds to begin the season. However, since Middleton was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday, it appears as though Doolittle will report to the minor-league club.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tejay Antone returns to Cincinnati Reds bullpen after injury, Sean Doolittle out Tejay Antone is back in the Reds' bullpen for the first time since June 24, sidelined for two months with a forearm strain.

AUGUST 24, 2021 • CINCINNATI.COM

DFA'd Tuesday The Reds designated Doolittle for assignment Tuesday.

Impact The veteran lefty has a 4.46 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 41:18 K:BB in 38.1 innings of relief this season. An experienced arm with championship experience, Doolittle figures to draw interest on waivers, though it remains to be seen whether another team takes a flier on him. If he goes unclaimed, Doolittle will have the option to remain with Triple-A Louisville or enter free agency. Tejay Antone (forearm) was activated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move Tuesday.

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Added velocity Doolittle has velocity to his fastball, working in the 95-97 mph range in his last couple of appearances, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact Doolittle has pitched only sparsely recently, having pitched twice in the month of August heading into Saturday's game. He worked on lowering his arm angle which had the effect of increasing his velocity.

AUGUST 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Blows save Saturday Doolittle was tagged with a blown save Saturday, allowing a hit and an inherited runner to score in one-third of an inning. He also had one strikeout.

Impact Doolittle came on with two out in the ninth inning to preserve a 4-3 lead after Heath Hembree had put the tying run in scoring position with a walk and a wild pitch. Tasked with facing lefty Dominic Smith, Doolittle gave up a game-tying single for his fourth blown-save in five chances this year. He struck out Kevin Pillar one batter later to end the inning. The 34-year-old Doolittle is 3-1 in 41 appearances with a 4.19 ERA and 1.57 WHIP.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

What If ... the Nationals hadn't traded Jesús Luzardo and others for Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson? Maybe the Nats wouldn't have needed to sign Jon Lester in the offseason. And perhaps they don't secure the 2019 title without Doolittle.

JULY 28, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Tagged with loss in extra innings Doolittle allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits in 0.1 innings to take the loss Saturday against the Brewers.

Impact Doolittle entered a 4-4 game in the 11th inning and allowed an RBI double to Christian Yelich and a single to Willy Adames, who later came around to score on a sacrifice fly after Doolittle had been replaced by Ryan Hendrix. Doolittle had entered the day having gone five straight appearances without allowing a run, but Saturday's performance left him with a 4.65 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 31 innings this season. Opposing batters are hitting .290 off of the veteran lefty.

JULY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Changing pitch mix After a series of poor results while relying heavily on his fastball, Doolittle has started changing his pitch mix, working heavily with pitching coach Derek Johnson, Charlie Golds...

Impact Over the course of the season, Doolittle has thrown 434 fastballs of his 481 pitches altogether, with an average fastball velocity of 92.8 mph, down from 2019. He's been getting diminishing returns from that fastball, allowing a 4.55 ERA and 1.66 WHIP over 27.2 innings, falling out of the mix for primary roles in the Reds' bullpen in the process. Cincinnati's bullpen has pitched so poorly in the aggregate, however, that if these changes stick, Doolittle could work his way back into the mix for a more important role.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

The Enquirer On Sunday, Sean Doolittle threw his first slider and his first change-up of the year. More changes are coming.

JUNE 29, 2021 • CINCINNATI.COM

Tough recent outings Doolittle has allowed at least one run in his last three outings, including giving up homers in his last two appearances.

Impact With Tejay Antone on the IL, there's a short-term opportunity for Doolittle to take on a more prominent role in the Reds' bullpen, but it doesn't appear that he's capable of filling it. Doolittle has allowed five homers and 11 walks in his 21.2 innings pitched, negating the impact of his 29 strikeouts. He currently sits with a 4.98 ERA and 1.57 WHIP.

JUNE 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Suarez homers in leadoff debut, Reds down Nationals 2-1

Eugenio Suarez homered off Washington ace Max Scherzer in his first career start as a leadoff hitter and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Nationals 2-1

MAY 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Doolittle expects ‘wave of emotion’ in return to Nationals Park Sean Doolittle didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to the Nationals — or the fans — when his season ended through injury last year. On his re...

MAY 25, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM

Sean Doolittle on his return to Nationals Park: ‘It’s going to be special, for sure’ Now with the Cincinnati Reds, the lefty reliever who played a key role in Washington's world championship will face a former team for the fi...

MAY 24, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Nationals send Orioles to 6th straight defeat, 6-5

Kyle Schwarber homered in the first inning and the Washington Nationals immediately erased an early three-run deficit, beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 to complete a three-game sw...

MAY 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Earns third win Doolittle (3-0) allowed a hit and struck out two to earn the win Sunday versus Colorado.

Impact Doolittle pitched well in the eighth inning before Cincinnati scored twice to take the lead in the ninth. Tejay Antone held on for the save to give Doolittle the win. The 34-year-old has a 4.20 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 22: K:BB across 15 innings this season. The southpaw has worked as a closer before, but he has one save, two blown saves and a hold in 17 appearances. He'll likely remain in a high-leverage role, even if that doesn't involve ninth-inning duties.

MAY 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE