SEAN DOOLITTLE NEWS

Struggling against righties Doolittle gave up the go-ahead hit Saturday and a game-tying hit Sunday against the Cubs' Nico Hoerner, and overall, right-handers are 8-for-21 with three doubles, a homer and an 1...

Impact If Doolittle is going to be a factor in the Reds' closer mix, he needs to get right-handers out more consistently. He's also allowed seven of nine inherited runners to score this season. There's a big opportunity for some reliever on the Reds to step into the vacant job, but Doolittle cost himself some equity in that battle this weekend.

MAY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Closes out Dodgers Doolittle did not allow a baserunner and struck out one to throw a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Impact Doolittle was called upon to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning, and he easily retired Corey Seager, Justin Turner and Max Muncy in order. The save was Doolittle's first since 2019 when he was a member of the Nationals. It's not clear whether he'll serve as the primary closer for the Reds for the time being, as none of Tejay Antone, Amir Garrett or Lucas Sims threw in the contest. However, it is clear that Doolittle has entered the closer conversation in Cincinnati.

APRIL 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dominant outing Doolittle earned the win Monday night against the Pirates after throwing a clean seventh inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced.

Impact Doolittle threw 11 of his 13 pitches for strikes while hitting 96 mph with his fastball on multiple pitches. Last season his average fastball was only 90.7 mph, losing nearly 3.0 mph from 2019. If he can maintain that velocity, he can be a huge asset in the Reds' bullpen, which collectively threw four shutout innings Monday night.

APRIL 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mad Bum gets opener for D-backs; Kluber is Yanks' No. 2

The Arizona Diamondbacks are ready to open the season in familiar fashion: with Mad Bum on the mound

MARCH 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not completely out of closer mix Doolittle could earn some saves this season, but he's behind Amir Garrett and Lucas Sims to start the year, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Impact Doolittle has 111 saves on his resume, but he's posted a mediocre 4.26 ERA over the last two seasons. The 34-year-old has done nothing to suggest he's about to turn things around this spring, giving up 11 runs in 7.1 innings while striking out six and walking seven.

MARCH 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Spring struggles continue Doolittle gave up three more runs in an inning Tuesday night, allowing five of the first six batters to reach on three hits and two walks, bumping his spring training ERA to 29.73,...

Impact Doolittle is nominally competing for the Reds' closer job, and could have gotten a leg up due to Amir Garrett and Lucas Sims not pitching in games yet, but the results have been so poor that it's hard to imagine him protecting a ninth-inning lead right now.

MARCH 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Soto, Turner, healthy rotation key for champ-to-chump Nats

Juan Soto and Trea Turner are expected to lead the lineup again for the Washington Nationals as they try to get back to winning baseball after tying for last place in the NL East

MARCH 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lindor, Mets talk about new deal; Rosario struggles in CF

Just over two weeks before opening day, Francisco Lindor and the New York Mets have begun talking about keeping him in town beyond this year

MARCH 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Better results Doolittle allowed a leadoff walk and a subsequent double Saturday against the A's but rallied to get two strikeouts and a sacrifice fly. He had given up four homers in his first tw...

Impact With Amir Garrett and Lucas Sims both sidelined so far, Doolittle had a chance to get a head start on winning the closer's job, but his poor outings haven't made him an appealing option.

MARCH 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mets celebrate World Series title -- in their minds

Michael Conforto and his New York Mets sprinted to celebrate the World Series title

MARCH 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mixed results Doolittle gave up three runs in his spring training debut Sunday against the Giants, allowing two homers, but also had increased velocity over last season and had some success work...

Impact Doolittle acknowledged that the breaking ball is still a work in progress. "I have to keep throwing it so I can develop that trust with it," Doolittle said. "I was kicking myself. I was mad, not because I hung it (to Ramos), I defined it wrong in my head. I said I'm just going to throw this for a strike. I have to be aggressive with it. I have to rip it. I didn't and I got burned. It's a good lesson." Doolittle so far isn't close to winning the Reds' closer job, even with Lucas Sims still not pitching in games.

MARCH 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cincinnati Reds: Sean Doolittle has perfect response to debut While no one puts much stock into spring training statistics, they are the only real idea as to how a player is performing. Even the players...

MARCH 8, 2021 • CALLTOTHEPEN.COM

C Notes: This spring training is weird The unreal nature of 2021 spring stats, Sean Doolittle's Jedi Training, and a perfect practice for Mark Kolozsvary, in this week's C Notes.

MARCH 8, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Bauer-less Reds fall back on the familiar for rotation

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell is going to have to figure out how to work around the departures of two pitchers who were among his most important players last season

FEBRUARY 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

NL East teams at the start of spring training

A team-by-team look at the National League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catcher...

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cincinnati Reds add Sean Doolittle, Dee Strange-Gordon

Left-hander Sean Doolittle and the Cincinnati Reds have finalized a $1.5 million, one-year contract

FEBRUARY 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Working on new pitch Doolittle developed a new pitch over the offseason, a breaking ball that he considers to be closer to a curveball than a slider, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Impact Doolittle has leaned very heavily on his fastball throughout his career, throwing the pitch 87.9 percent of the time. His only commonly-used out pitches over the last several seasons have been a slider and a changeup. The formerly dominant closer has recorded a mediocre 4.26 ERA over the past two seasons, but a new pitch could be what he needs to stake his claim for the ninth-inning role in Cincinnati.

FEBRUARY 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nats decline options for Kendrick, Eaton, Sánchez, Thames

The Washington Nationals have declined 2021 club options on right fielder Adam Eaton and right-handed starter Aníbal Sánchez

OCTOBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nationals outlast Braves 8-7 on Taylor's single in 12th

Michael A

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington Nationals place Sean Doolittle on 10-Day IL with oblique strain, recall lefty Ben Braymer Just when Sean Doolittle was starting to look and feel right on the mound, the veteran lefty strained an oblique and landed back on the IL.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • FEDERALBASEBALL.COM

Likely out for season Doolittle was diagnosed with an oblique strain and placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.

Impact Doolittle doesn't have a precise timeline for his return, but with just 16 days left in the regular season, his chances of returning before the end of the campaign appear slim. The former closer didn't record a single save this season and struggled to a 5.87 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP in 7.2 innings of work.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Washington Nationals’ Davey Martinez and Sean Doolittle on Roberto Clemente Day & Award nomination... Davey Martinez and Sean Doolittle talked this week about what Roberto Clemente means to them...

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • FEDERALBASEBALL.COM

Power trio: Freeman, Swanson, Acuña rally Braves past Nats

Freddie Freeman homered twice, Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead shot in the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat the Washington Nationals 7-6

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Suffers oblique injury Doolittle exited Thursday's game against Atlanta after suffering a right oblique injury in the ninth inning, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Doolittle entered to start the ninth, but exited after retiring Nick Markakis for the first out. The southpaw appeared to be motioning toward his oblique area as he called for trainers to come check on him. Manager Dave Martinez confirmed after the contest that it is indeed an oblique issue and that Doolittle will undergo further examination before the extent of the injury is determined. It will be unfortunate timing should the reliever be forced to miss an extended period, as he has tallied six consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run since returning from a knee injury Aug. 26.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Wire Taps: Washington Nationals place Howie Kendrick on IL; Sean Doolittle up for award + more Nats links... Catch up on the last 24 hours in Nationals news while you wait for the start of the series with the Braves...

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 • FEDERALBASEBALL.COM