Nats' Zack Littell eyes turnaround as Brewers go for sweep

Veteran right-hander Zack Littell will try to get back on track and help the Washington Nationals avert a three-game sweep against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

The 30-year-old Littell (0-4, 7.85 ERA) signed as a free agent during spring training. He will be looking to turn things around after giving up eight, six and four earned runs, respectively, in his last three starts, all losses.

Last time out, Littell allowed eight runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings against the New York Mets on Tuesday. Two of the hits were home runs -- one on his first pitch of the game -- and he has given up 11 homers over his past four starts.

"He had a late start to spring training," National general manager Paul Toboni recently said of Littell. "That factors in. We're going to hang by these guys. Zack has had moments, as has Miles (Mikolas), where he's thrown really darn well. We're going to continue to stand by him."

One factor that bodes well for Littell on Sunday is that the Brewers are tied for second-to-last in the majors with 22 home runs.

Littell allowed three runs on six hits over five innings of a no-decision at the Brewers on April 12. For his career, he is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA and one save in 13 games (four starts) versus Milwaukee.

The Brewers, who have won five of six, have not announced a starter for the finale.

On Saturday, Milwaukee got a strong start from Kyle Harrison and took advantage of a Washington miscue in a three-run first en route to a 4-1 win.

After collecting four hits in each of the previous two games, William Contreras was 1-for-4 with a walk, but that hit was crucial as it started a two-out rally in the first.

That gave Contreras, who scored the game's first run, nine hits in his last 10 at-bats.

"He's been good," manager Pat Murphy said. "He's really been good. He's capable. We're looking for consistency, we're looking for consistency in approach. This guy's got a chance to be a top-10 player in the league if he stays consistent in every way."

After a pair of walks following Contreras' single, third baseman Brady House's fielding error on Luis Rengifo's grounder allowed Contreras to score the game's first run. Brandon Lockridge followed with a two-run single to make it 3-0.

"I think a lot of us kind of just focus on putting up quality at-bats," Milwaukee shortstop Joey Ortiz said. "That's what we did that first inning. You just try to come through for the team, really. We were able to punch first and keep the lead."

The Nationals, meanwhile, lead the major leagues with 32 errors in 34 games.

"We can do all the work we want to pregame, but if we're not looking at what that work is and making adjustments to it, then we're not doing our job," manager Blake Butera said. "We're gonna adjust our pregame work and try something a little bit different to clean up these mistakes."

James Wood had two hits and Curtis Mead doubled and scored for the Nationals, who have scored only one run in each of the first two games.

--Field Level Media