The Nationals Are Falling Apart and the Cardinals Know It

Washington came out swinging this season. Three wins in the first four games felt like a statement. Then reality hit. Five straight losses later, including a brutal Sunday collapse against the defending World Series champion Dodgers, the Nationals are heading into a home series against St. Louis looking like a team that needs to remember how to win.

The Dodgers' comeback was the kind that stings. Washington built a 6-1 lead with home runs from Luis Garcia Jr. and James Wood, but the LA bullpen tossed four scoreless innings and stormed back. Los Angeles scored four in the eighth to take the lead, then added another in the ninth for an 8-6 final. It's the kind of game that should haunt you, and it should haunt the Nationals right now.

The Bullpen Is the Real Problem

Here's the brutal truth: Washington's bullpen has tanked early. In the past week, the unit has blown leads of four runs and five runs. That's the difference between being 5-4 and sitting at 3-6. You don't lose those games, you lose them to yourself. James Wood said it best after Sunday: "You've just got to wear it and move on from it and learn from it." Easier said than done when your relievers keep handing games away.

Littell Has Work to Do

Zack Littell gets the ball Monday night against Andre Pallante. The Cardinals' starter is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA after shredding the Mets in his first outing, pitching five scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol loved what he saw: "Missing bats with the slider, used the sinker appropriately inside. What he was able to do with the baseball was really good."

Littell? He's 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA after getting lit up by Philadelphia last Tuesday. He came in during the second inning and gave up three runs, including two home runs. The Nationals signed him during spring training, and he's still finding his footing. Against St. Louis specifically, he's 0-2 with a 6.11 ERA in three starts. This is not the matchup you want when you're desperate to stop the bleeding.

St. Louis has been steady early, alternating wins and losses before salvaging the Sunday finale against Detroit, 5-3. Ivan Herrera's two-run single in the fifth inning sparked that rally. The 25-year-old catcher has hit safely in six straight games after starting slow.

First pitch Monday. Washington needs this one.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.