Rainey's bid for 'pen spot a work in progress

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Nationals had a bullpen day in the 3-1 loss to the Astros on Tuesday.

The Nationals are looking for bullpen pieces for 2022, and they are hoping that right-hander Tanner Rainey is one of those relievers that can hold opponents scoreless in the middle or late innings. But based on his outing against the Astros on Tuesday, the 29-year-old righty may require some more fine-tuning.

When Rainey entered the game in the second inning, he was able to get two quick outs before things started to unravel for him. The next four hitters reached base, two of them via the walk. Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña highlighted the scoring with a two-run single. Rainey has to stop rushing to get that third out and slow things down while on the mound, said manager Dave Martinez.

“He worked ahead with his first two batters and then he fell behind, walked a guy. [The Astros] didn't hit the ball hard, but things happened,” Martinez said. “We’ve seen this before. It’s something we have to work on. Once he gets two quick outs like that, he has to really focus on that third hitter and not give him a free base.”

According to Martinez, Rainey’s fastball was clocked as high as 94 mph.

Martinez thinks highly of García
After being optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Monday, infielder Luis García had a conversation with Martinez, who gave him words of encouragement. The skipper went so far as to tell García that he would be an All-Star infielder one day.

Martinez could have kept García on the Major League roster as a platoon player like he was last year, but the skipper felt he needed to hone his skills in the Minor Leagues. Martinez reiterated to García that he could return to the Major Leagues soon.

“I told him it’s about growth. He is young,” Martinez said. “I don’t think [platooning] is good for him. I want him to go down there and play every day and get at-bats against lefties and righties. I told him to polish the little things -- become a better baserunner, [make] all the routine plays. Sometimes he struggles with that.

“Sometimes he carries his at-bats on the field, and we told him there is a separation. When you play defense, it’s all about defense, catching balls and being in the right position. When you are hitting, for him it’s about situations of the game, not just going up there and swinging the bat.”

Strange-Gordon doesn't 'have a position'
Dee Strange-Gordon has embraced the role of a bench player for the Nationals, according Martinez. It doesn’t matter where you put him, he is willing to do the job. Strange-Gordon is also having a nice spring at the plate, going 6-for-18 (.333) in eight games.

An All-Star shortstop with the Dodgers and Marlins, Strange-Gordon is seeing time in the outfield. He is perfecting his skills under the tutelage of first-base coach Eric Young Jr.

“Just listening to EY and trying to be the best that I can be,” Strange-Gordon said. “I’m having a lot of fun here. They are letting me be myself. I think it’s good. I can’t complain.”

Playing the outfield is nothing new to Strange-Gordon. He has played 66 career games in the outfield, starting in 2018 with the Mariners. The Nationals are hoping that his speed can catch up to fly balls hit in the gap.

“I learned a couple of things [in Seattle],” said Strange-Gordon. “It’s fun. I’m doing what I have to do. Whatever the team needs me to do, I’m going to do it. I’m a ballplayer now. I don’t have a position.”

Worth noting
Right-hander Josiah Gray pitched on the back fields on Tuesday and threw 81 pitches. He fell behind on some of the hitters but managed to get outs when he needed to, according to Martinez.