Oliver Perez likes Nationals' chances second time around

After starting 195 games from 2002-2010 for three different teams, left-hander Oliver Perez found himself out of the majors. He ended up at Double-A Harrisburg, where Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams made a recommendation that eventually resurrected his career.

"Williams talked to me a lot," Perez said. "I say thanks to him. I know him from the Pirates. He told me, 'You pitch really good against lefties. As soon as you get to the big leagues, go to the bullpen and figure out how to get the lefties out,' and that's why I went to winter ball and try to start working out as a reliever."

Perez made the transition quickly, but the Nationals never benefited, as he ended up returning to the majors with the Mariners in 2012.

"That was like my second chance," Perez said. "I was having trouble being consistent, healthy (as a starter). When I get to Double-A, I had time to set it up and thinking about what could be next for me. That was a really good decision to move to the bullpen to try to come back to the big leagues."

Now 34, Perez is back with the Nationals after signing a two-year, $7 million deal in December. He's expected to fill the role left by southpaw Matt Thornton, who became a free agent this offseason. Hard-throwing lefty Felipe Rivero figures to be featured prominently in the back end of the Nats bullpen this season after an impressive rookie campaign in 2015. Left-handers Matt Grace and Sammy Solis also showed flashes last year after receiving their first taste of big league action. Both are projected to start the season in the minors.

Since making the move to the bullpen in 2012, Perez has posted a 3.31 ERA with 225 strikeouts over 182 1/3 innings while pitching for the Mariners, Diamondbacks and Astros. He's held left-handed batters to a .238 average over his career, but that number dropped to .185 in 2015.

"I kind of like it because I got a chance to pitch every day," Perez said. "That's the game I love. It's a really good experience, being in a tough situation almost every day because in my hand, I can decide the game. I think that can sometimes be hard but it's fun at the same moment. You can learn more passion for the job you're doing."

Perez has 25 holds over the past two seasons and he's denied 70.1 percent of inherited runners from scoring over his four years as a reliever. He's one of five lefty relievers who has fanned at least 50 batters while appearing in 60 or more games in each of the past three seasons.

"The way I pitch right now, I just try to change my delivery, like arm slot," Perez explained. "Because I'm gonna face the guy only like one time. When you are a starter, you might face him three times. And that's how they can figure out where's your arm spot and what your better pitch is. So in the bullpen, they have to figure it out early, in one pitch. As a reliever, we may have the advantage in the at-bat so that's why you have to be positive and throw strikes."

Perez was teammates with Bryce Harper and Tyler Moore during his stint in Harrisburg. He now gets a second chance with the organization that helped extend his career.

"As soon as they told me the Nationals were very interested in signing you, I was really happy because I know we got a really good team and I think we have a chance to be in the playoffs this year," he said.