Is Grace a matchup lefty or a long reliever?

As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Matt Grace, who has become a stalwart in the bullpen.

PLAYER REVIEW: MATT GRACE

Age on opening day 2019: 30

How acquired: Eighth-round pick, 2010 draft

MLB service time: 2 years, 65 days

2018 salary: $557,000

Contract status: Under team control in 2019, arbitration-eligible in 2020, free agent in 2023

2018 stats: 1-1, 2.87 ERA, 56 G, 0 SV, 59 2/3 IP, 55 H, 22 R, 19 ER, 5 HR, 13 BB, 48 SO, 2 HBP, 1.140 WHIP, 0.6 fWAR, 1.3 bWAR

Quotable: "I like Gracie facing both lefty and right. But if I can use him and keep his bullets down, if I can use him for just one or two hitters, he could be available for two or three days in a row." - Davey Martinez

2018 analysis: With three others left-handers in their opening day bullpen, Grace entered the season in a fairly clear-cut role as one of the Nationals' long relievers. He had done well at times in that role last season, and his ability to go multiple innings and often get quick outs made him a strong candidate to thrive long-term when used like that.

That wasn't always the case, though. Grace often was asked to record four or more outs early in the season, and he wound up with some erratic results. He also spent a month and a half on the disabled list with a strained groin.

Once healthy, and once the Nationals bullpen had taken on a very different look due to midsummer trades and injuries, Grace began to be used as more of a matchup lefty. And he did well. On six occasions he was asked to face only one batter, and on all six occasions he retired that batter. Four more times he faced only two batters, and on three of those occasions he retired both.

The odd part of all this: Grace actually had better numbers against right-handed batters (.229 average, .272 on-base percentage) than lefties (.258 average, .305 on-base percentage). It all added up to a successful season, but one that didn't necessarily clear up exactly how he is best utilized.

2019 outlook: The Nationals are seriously lacking in quality left-handed relievers as the offseason begins. Sean Doolittle, of course, is back as the closer. But Grace and Sammy Solís are the only other southpaws currently on the club's 40-man roster (and Solís is coming off a miserable season and could be non-tendered).

So it's fair to say the Nats are going to need Grace to be a significant part of the 2019 bullpen. They just need to figure out in what capacity.

Yes, he had some success in short stints late in the season. But he's also the rare lefty capable of pitching effective long relief. That creates something of a conundrum for the Nationals. Pay attention to their other bullpen moves this winter. If they acquire a proven lefty to fill the matchup role, it probably signals their intention to keep Grace as a long reliever. If they don't go out and get another lefty, it probably means they trust him to get the job done.