So far the only part of the bullpen that has gone right for the Washington Nationals this season is the closer spot. All-Star Sean Doolittle has bounced back nicely from a longlasting injury in 2018 and looks on pace to earn another All-Star nod come July.
Despite his success, a major concern for Washington is how much he has been used. Thursday afternoon’s game against the New York Mets saw Doolittle throw 31 pitches in a tough ninth inning.
Although he was able to record the save and secure the big 7-6 win for the Nationals, due to his appearances the past two nights and heavy workload Thursday afternoon, it seems all but inevitable that Doolittle will be unavailable for the opener against the Chicago Cubs Friday night.