Sports
Nats' Zack Littell eyes turnaround as Brewers go for sweep
Apr 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Zack Littell (18) pitches in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images 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
Sports
Tigers' Framber Valdez suspended for beaning Trevor Story
Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, on May 5, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan, with players and coaches from the Tigers and Red Sox on the field after a hit-by-pitch from Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez. Detroit Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez received a six-game suspension and an undisclosed fine Wednesday for intentionally throwing at Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story on Tuesday night.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch also received a fine and a one-game suspension, which he will serve in Wednesday night’s series finale against the visiting Red Sox. Bench coach George Lombard will fill in as manager.
Both benches emptied in the fourth inning after Story got plunked by a fastball from Valdez, earning the pitcher an ejection following the worst start of his career.
Valdez allowed a career-high 10 runs (seven earned) on nine hits, including three homers, in three-plus innings, taking the loss in the 10-3 setback.
Valdez, 32, is 2-2 with a 4.57 ERA through eight starts in his first season with Detroit, which signed him to a three-year, $115 million deal in February.
A two-time All-Star with Houston (2022, 2023), Valdez is 83-54 with a 3.41 ERA in 196 career games (174 starts) with the Astros (2018-25) and Tigers.
–Field Level Media
Sports
'Everything hurts': Michelle Wie West making first LPGA start in 3 years
Michelle Wie West watches a practice round of the 2025 Masters. Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Serving as tournament host is not what’s making Michelle Wie West nervous at this week’s Mizuho Americas Open in West Caldwell, N.J.
Wie West, 36, will tee it up in an LPGA Tour event for the first time since stepping away from competition after missing the cut at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open. She joked Wednesday that she “knew a few people” who could help her secure a spot into this week’s field, as Wie West prepares to play in next month’s U.S. Women’s Open.
After three years away from competition, Wie West was asked if the mental or physical side of the game is the most difficult to prepare for this week.
“Definitely mental. I don’t know physical. I feel pretty old right now and everything hurts. But I would say mental for sure,” Wie West said. “I get hit with moments of being nervous and I freeze up.
“To be fair, I feel like I have a lot of really good clarity on the feeling of being nervous and whatnot. But kind of getting back into the mode of playing there is really only a few things I do when I get nervous. I need to just not do them. That’s easier said than done.
“Yeah, it’s all difficult.”
A little more than a year after playing in her last LPGA Tour event, Wie West gave birth to her second child. She has spent much of the time since in various endeavors, including using events like the Mizuho Americas Open to mentor youth athletes.
The itch to compete and grow the game of golf also remains. In addition to the two upcoming events, Wie West is one of 14 women who have signed on to compete in the upcoming WTGL, the tech-infused indoor golf league co-owned by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
“I think any platform that can give LPGA players a sounding board and opportunity to showcase their talent, personalities, I think TGL is perfect for that,” Wie West said. “I think we’re going to reach new audiences hopefully.
“With the innovation and technology, I think it’s a perfect place to showcase everyone’s talents.”
Nelly Korda is the most prominent name yet to commit to the WTGL. However, like the world’s top-ranked player, Wie West hopes the league will grow to see PGA and LPGA Tour players compete together.
“From day one I got very excited about the aspect of playing co-ed matches. I think that would be really exciting,” she said. “I think these players, LPGA players, have such amazing personalities.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Andy Pages (3 HRs, 6 RBIs) powers Dodgers in rout of Astros
May 6, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages (44) is congratulated by left fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) after hitting a two run home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Andy Pages’ career-best three home runs and six RBIs carried the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers to a 12-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
Los Angeles starter Tyler Glasnow left after an inning with low back pain. Jack Dreyer (2-1) earned the win by throwing two scoreless frames. Six relievers combined to hurl eight innings of one-run, four-hit ball.
Shohei Ohtani posted two hits, two runs and an RBI for the Dodgers, who won their third game in four tries and took the three-game set.
Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. (2-3) lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on four hits, striking out four and walking three. In relief, Jason Alexander yielded five runs on nine hits across 4 1/3 frames, striking out a pair and walking five.
Houston opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Brice Matthews connected on his fourth homer of the year,a drive to left on Glasnow’s third pitch of the game.
After Kyle Tucker doubled and Dalton Rushing singled in the second, McCullers’ wild pitch evened the score.
Glasnow was then replaced by Dreyer after trying to pitch in the second.
Alex Freeland walked and Ohtani doubled to begin the third, before two more wild pitches from McCullers gave the Dodgers a 3-1 edge.
Following walks to Freddie Freeman and Tucker, Pages belted his sixth homer of the year to left to extend the lead to 6-1 and chase McCullers.
Freeman’s double in the fourth off Alexander pushed the margin to six.
Muncy laced a one-out single in the fifth before Pages hit his second homer, another shot to left, to give the Dodgers an 9-1 advantage. Later in the inning, Ohtani lined an RBI single.
Freeland’s single extended the lead to 11-1 in the seventh.
Against Blake Treinen, Zach Cole singled to cut the Astros’ deficit to nine.
First baseman Cesar Salazar pitched the ninth for Houston, allowing Pages’ third homer, a shot to left.
–Field Level Media
Tigers' Framber Valdez suspended for beaning Trevor Story
'Everything hurts': Michelle Wie West making first LPGA start in 3 years
