Nationals option Carson Palmquist to Triple-A

Littell took over for Carson Palmquist, who allowed two earned runs over 1 1/3 innings of work. While two runs were charged to Palmquist, it was Littell who gave up the hits that allowed both runs to cross, and it was the sacrifice fly he allowed to Gabriel Moreno in the seventh inning that proved to be the difference-maker. Littell’s outing was far better than the eight earned runs he allowed last week against the A’s, and he’s now allowed one earned run in three of his last four games. He’s set to take the mound next on Wednesday at home against the Blue Jays.

Palmquist opened ahead of Miles Mikolas on Tuesday and gave up four runs in 1 2/3 innings in Colorado. The Nationals will hope the arrangement works better this time.

Carson Palmquist opened for the Nationals and tossed a scoreless first inning before giving up four in the second. He was chased with two outs in the inning at 36 pitches. Mikes Mikolas took over and recorded the final out, then gave up a run in the third on a double and two groundouts. Two hits in the fifth and a solo homer in the sixth brought two more runs in for Colorado before Mikolas departed with one out in the sixth inning. He struck out one. The 37-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 5.60 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and a 51/20 K/BB ratio across 98 innings. His next outing is scheduled for Monday at home against the Blue Jays.

Mikolas will be pitching for the first time since serving his five-game suspension for fighting Boston’s Nate Eaton.

It’s the same thing that happened on Saturday. Even with the Yankees struggling and the increased win chances, streaming Littell would be a bold move. Littell inherited three runners from Palmquist in the second inning last outing and allowed all three of them to score.

It’ll be lefty Carson Palmquist taking the ball as Washington’s opener before turning things over to Littell for an extended relief outing. The 30-year-old veteran has routinely pitched behind an opener this season and boasts a pedestrian 5.29 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 49/25 K/BB ratio across 80 innings of work. He’s not a recommended fantasy option, especially with temperatures hovering in the triple-digits at Nationals Park during this Fourth of July mid-day affair.

Palmquist has allowed one run on two hits in 3 1/3 innings for the Nationals this season, but has a 6.00 ERA in 36 innings at Triple-A this season.

Palmquist heads back to the minors after throwing 58 pitches over 3 1/3 innings to open Wednesday’s contest against the Phillies. The 25-year-old lefty figures to rejoin Washington’s pitching mix in a couple weeks.

He takes the spot of Paxton Schultz, who was optioned out after last night’s loss. It’s Palmquist’s first major league stint with the Nationals, who claimed him off waivers from the Rockies last month. He had a 6.00 ERA and a 30/22 K/BB in 36 innings between Triple-A Albuquerque and Rochester this season.

Palmquist bolsters Washington’s left-handed pitching depth after posting a calamitous 8.91 ERA, 2.04 WHIP and 27/25 K/BB ratio across 34 1/3 innings for the Rockies last year. The 25-year-old southpaw represents a worthwhile zero-risk dice roll for the Nationals’ pitching development engine to see what he looks like away from Coors Field.