Doolittle ready for extra workload that awaits him in October

MIAMI - From the moment the trade was consummated on July 16, Dusty Baker has known he needs to be careful about using Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson too much. Both relievers, acquired from the Athletics in the same deal, have dealt with significant arm injuries in recent years. And so both have to monitor their workloads in an attempt to keep them healthy.

"Some of them have histories or being injured," Baker said. "That's what I'm trying to avoid. You can't afford to have them go down this close to the end of the season."

But there's going to come a point in a few weeks when the Nationals can't afford to do that anymore. If they hold a slim lead - or even trail by a slim margin - late in a postseason game, Madson and Doolittle are going to find themselves on the mound, whether they pitched the previous night or not.

So with that in mind, Baker may be more willing to prepare his late-inning relievers for October by pitching them in more back-to-back games in September.

We saw it this week with Doolittle, who closed out both Monday and Tuesday night's wins over the Marlins. It was the lefty's first back-to-back appearances since Aug. 12-13, and he had no problem with the way he was used.

"It's one of those good problems to have," Doolittle said. "Cause if my role comes up, that means we're winning. So there have been a lot of times where it's been unavoidable. ... In a way, it's kind of good, because when you're throwing well and you're getting good results, you want to continue to pitch. You want to stay in that rhythm."

Because he threw 40 pitches the previous two nights, Doolittle was deemed unavailable for Wednesday's series finale. (Though in trouncing the Marlins 8-1, the Nats didn't need to use any of their top relievers.) But he'll be available again tonight when the Nationals host the Phillies, and then again Friday if necessary.

Doolittle, who spent time on the disabled list earlier this season with Oakland due to a shoulder injury, said he has learned over the course of his career how best to maintain his body and his arm to be ready for periods of extra usage.

"A lot. And I'm still learning," he said. "I'm constantly trying to find things. I think this year I've started to be more efficient with my throwing and really stress the quality over quantity. Both playing catch before batting practice, but also in the bullpen warming up. There were times before where you get on the mound and you just throw until it's your turn to go in the game. If you can be more efficient and aware of the number of throws, you don't need to throw 25 pitches down there. I realize I'm good now after about 10 or 12. That helps a lot."

With the Nationals set to clinch a division title sometime during the upcoming homestand, there will be plenty of opportunity to rest relievers during the season's final two-plus weeks. But Doolittle knows he needs to be ready to be called upon a lot once the games get real important again in October.

And he's not worried about his arm holding up through it all.

"Because the playoffs are a different beast," said the veteran of three postseason runs with the A's (2012-14). "You have built-in days off for travel. And there's so much adrenaline going in the playoffs, it doesn't take much for you to get your body to where it needs to be. I think the thing that helps us the most right now is pitching in all these close games we've been in. We've found ourselves in a lot of close games the past few weeks, and we've been able to come out ahead. I think we'll be battle-tested for the playoffs."