PHILADELPHIA - By the time they play again, the Washington Nationals could well have their bullpen back in working order - with their closer in good health and manager Manny Acta once again being able to manipulate late-inning matchups.
But if Chad Cordero’s shoulder tendinitis hasn’t subsided by Thursday afternoon, at least the Nationals know they have a serviceable Plan B.
Washington’s bullpen, usually its most prominent strength, has struggled in its new configuration the last two days. Pressed for extra work after a pair of short starts, it has blown two leads and given up four runs in 72/3 innings. But the Nationals are still 2-0.
“Right now we’re piecing it together until we get Chief [Cordero] back in that [closer’s] role,” said reliever Ray King, who is normally called on to get one left-hander out but has pitched 12/3 innings the first two games. “A lot of guys are pitching in different situations. We’re bending down there but we’re not breaking. We’ve blown a couple saves, but we haven’t blown a game. Until then, I still feel confidence in our guys down there.”
The Nationals might not have to work with a modified bullpen much longer. Cordero received a cortisone shot and will be re-examined today, but Acta said yesterday the team isn’t “even considering the DL yet” for Cordero.
His absence has served as a brief litmus test for several of the Nationals’ younger relievers, which has yielded one surprise: Saul Rivera earned the win yesterday against the Phillies by retiring Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell and Pedro Feliz in order.
That outing came on the heels of two perfect innings on Sunday against Atlanta, when Rivera also worked through the heart of the Braves’ order.
“He’s not 6-5, 220, to start with. A lot of people sometimes underestimate little guys like that,” Acta said. “But he’s fearless. He’s not afraid, and his ball moves a lot. He cuts the ball and sinks it. He keeps the ball down and gets the job done.”
Rivera made 85 appearances last year, finishing 17 games and posting a 3.68 ERA. But it’s a lot different protecting a lead or a tie, which Rivera has done the last two days, and against a pair of formidable lineups, he’s shown he can handle important innings.
“You just try to focus. It doesn’t matter who’s in the batter’s box,” he said. “I’m just trying to do my job.”
Yesterday didn’t go as well for Joel Hanrahan, who became the big surprise of Nationals camp after striking out eight in three innings of a March 11 game against Atlanta and allowing just two hits all spring.
He finished the sixth inning with two strikeouts before walking Jayson Werth to start the seventh and giving up a double to Carlos Ruiz.
“My command wasn’t where it was during spring training,” Hanrahan said. “I got the two strikeouts on pitches that were balls.”
The Nationals will likely be cautious in bringing Cordero back, meaning it could be a few days before relievers like King and Hanrahan get the matchups where they’re most effective.
For what has been a uneven test run, however, coming out of it with two wins doesn’t hurt.
“With Cordero not being here, our bullpen is a little bit short, and guys are being put in situations they wouldn’t normally be in,” Acta said. “But we trust these guys.”
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