Espino able to 'flip the switch' from starter to reliever

WASHINGTON -- Right-hander Paolo Espino has emphasized he will step in wherever the Nationals have the biggest need in their pitching staff. This season, that has meant his first 20 appearances coming out of the bullpen, followed by 16 in the starting rotation and his most recent two in relief. That doesn’t mean his role won’t change again by the end of this season, either.

“Paolo’s done both,” manager Dave Martinez said. “And that’s what Paolo’s really good at.”

Espino last started Sept. 6 when he tossed five innings in St. Louis. Five days later, he made his first relief appearance since June 9 with one inning against the Phillies. On Wednesday, he pitched the eighth frame in the Nationals’ 6-2 Beltway Series finale loss at Nationals Park.

“As of right now, he’ll be in the bullpen,” Martinez said. “But we do need a starter coming up here fairly shortly, so he might be the guy to start. We’re trying to get him some innings. I know he’s throwing some bullpens -- we’re [trying] to get him in to keep him fresh. But you never know, he might end up starting a game or two for us at the end here.”

Cory Abbott got the nod Tuesday, followed by Patrick Corbin on Wednesday. Following an off-day Thursday, Josiah Gray, Erick Fedde and Aníbal Sánchez are tabbed to start the weekend series against the Marlins. From there, the Nats will have decisions to make as they maneuver innings counts (Gray is up to 131 2/3 in his second season) and scheduled days off on Sept. 22 and 29.

“I’ll do whatever is necessary,” Espino said. “It’s all about what the team needs. I don’t mind it.”

As Espino shifts back into a reliever's mindset, he is re-adjusting to quickly attacking the strike zone. While a starter has more time to settle in for an evening of work, a reliever is tasked with being on-point from the first pitch.

“These two last appearances, it feels like I’ve been struggling a little bit with command,” Espino said. “For example, my outing in Philly: the first guy I faced [Matt Vierling], I threw three straight balls in a row and then I had to battle back. Then today, I threw my first pitch [to Terrin Vavra] for a strike, but then I kind of struggled to find the zone again a little bit. Then some of my offspeed, the curveball, was a little off at the beginning. Then finally when I got to the righties, it came back. But I feel good, everything is feeling OK. It’s just maybe a little something that I need to change real quick, maybe a couple extra warmup pitches and I’ll be good.”

Adapting on the mound is nothing new for Espino. Last season, he split his appearances between 19 starts and 16 in relief for the Nationals. In doing so, he has built a resume of reliability for his coaching staff and teammates.

“He’ll come in and do anything Davey asks for, and those are valuable guys on the team,” Corbin said. “He’s made a lot of starts this year, he can go three, four innings out of the ‘pen if needed, even come in and throw one. He’s been very valuable for the last couple of years.”

Espino enjoyed having a set routine as a starter. Now that he is in bullpen, he also enjoys the spontaneity of it.

“I also like when I’m in the ‘pen, the little adrenaline rush when they call, ‘Hey, Espino! Get going,’” he said with a smile.

And if the Nationals make the call for him to return to the rotation, he will be just as amped up for that return.

“If I get to start again before the season is over, that would be really nice,” Espino said. “I just flip the switch.”