Corbin happy with how his changeup has progressed

As first spring training starts go, Patrick Corbin took the positives out of his two-inning outing against the Marlins on Saturday afternoon.

The left-hander's slider looked crisp, his sinker effective. He was able to tinker with a cutter and a changeup he wants to integrate more into his mix to keep opposing hitters thinking. Best of all, he got his work in before rain started to move across Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla.

The Nationals prevailed 5-3 in a game shortened by rain to six innings. Four players drove in runs: Yan Gomes, Andrew Stevenson, Luis García and Yasmany Tomás.

"I was able to throw everything," Corbin said via Zoom after throwing 33 pitches, 20 for strikes. "First time, first outing, I was happy with it. I feel good. Build up those innings, build up that pitch count and get ready for the season."

Corbin usually strives to get six starts in during Grapefruit League play, but said he would probably only make five this spring. Against the Marlins, he allowed a run on two hits with three strikeouts.

"As long as I get an outing to at least 90 pitches, I feel pretty good," he said, adding that reaching that goal shouldn't pose a problem.

While the slider has been his bread and butter, especially to right-handed hitters, Corbin expects to spend this spring fine-tuning his cutter and changeup.

He threw a few changeups on Saturday, striking out Brian Anderson swinging to end a first inning when he gave up a run after surrendering a leadoff double to Corey Dickerson. In the second, Corbin retired the Marlins in order.

"Everyone knows I throw a slider, so to have something else that can keep them off that pitch or maybe something to show them less is kind of what we're thinking there," he said. "It'll be something I'll continue to work with."

Before the game, manager Davey Martinez talked about wanting to see Corbin use his changeup more frequently, perhaps enough to develop it as a complement to his already effective slider. It can be especially effective against right-handers; Anderson whiffed on a low-and-away change.

"We definitely want him to try to use it and get comfortable throwing it," Martinez said. "It is a good pitch for him. Obviously, we've run the numbers and he doesn't throw it enough. So hopefully, once he gets comfortable, he'll start throwing it. For today, I know he's going to try to work ahead in counts, and work with fastball command, but we definitely want him to understand that that's a good pitch for him and he needs to start throwing a little bit more."

Last year, Corbin threw the changeup only 5.6 percent of the time, according to BaseballSavant.mlb.com. He relied more heavily on his slider (40.3 percent), sinker (29.8 percent) and his four-seam fastball (22.3 percent).

"I think every start, things change. Sometimes you have it, sometimes you don't," Corbin said, adding, "I feel like I always try to make sure my slider's there."

Martinez said postgame that Corbin has a good understanding of his repertoire and how to attack hitters effectively.

"He knows exactly who he is and he knows he's got an effective slider. That's an out pitch. If he can develop that changeup along with that slider he has, it's just another pitch the hitter's got to worry about."

Two key members of the Nationals bullpen also made their spring debuts on Saturday. Daniel Hudson allowed a two-run homer to Garrett Cooper in the third inning and Will Harris worked around a leadoff single by Anderson in the fourth

"They were both good. They were both around the plate" Martinez said. "I know Huddy gave up the home run, but we should have been out of that inning. I thought he threw the ball well. Velo looked good today, too."