Kintzler's presence gives Martinez options in back end of bullpen

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Law Firm is back for another season, but don't get too enamored of Brandon Kintzler pitching the seventh inning, followed by Ryan Madson in the eighth and closer Sean Doolittle in the ninth.

The names will remain the same, but don't print up the business cards or signage for the office suite. The order might just change as the Nationals' needs do on a game-by-game basis.

New manager Davey Martinez acknowledges that having three reliable relievers at the back end of the bullpen is a luxury, but it's one that he believes provides him with more flexibility than typical guy-an-inning allotments.

"The one thing for sure is we're going to take care of those guys and we're not going to burn them out," Martinez said. "It's a long season - I know that - and all three of them know on any given day, they might be asked to close out a game."

The wild card here appears to be Kintzler, who re-signed with the Nationals in the offseason. While he's currently pegged to be the seventh-inning arm, the right-hander logged 42 saves in 45 tries with the Twins over two seasons before being traded to the Nats in July, and gives Martinez a pitcher with a closer's mentality to set up Doolittle.

Kintzler's value lies in his ability to get both right- and left-handed batters out. He's got reverse splits, meaning he's more effective against left-handers, who bat .234 against him, than versus right-handers, who hit him at a .287 clip. The down-and-away sinker Kintzler throws confounds lefty batters.

Martinez knows what pitches Kintzler throws and the pitcher's tendencies, but the manager has a much simpler take on his effectiveness.

"For me, it's about throwing strikes on both sides of the plate," Martinez said. "He's not afraid to come in. He gets guys looking in. He's able to throw the sinker, changeup away. He does all kinds of things and he can get you out in many ways."

Kintzler is also anything but a power pitcher, getting more ground balls than strikeouts. That's a plus in a situation where he needs to get a double play ball. And in the right situation, that ability may land Kintzler a save chance ahead of Doolittle or Madson.

"I've had discussions with him before," Martinez said. "Doolittle, Madson ain't gonna pitch every day. I told him there's going to be days when you're asked to close games, and we're going to communicate that. He gets outs and that's what we need. When you're in the bullpen, we're looking to get outs."

Martinez is quick to point out that Kintzler, Madson and Doolittle - though they slot perfectly for the seventh through ninth innings - aren't the only pitchers in his bullpen with a history of getting high-leverage outs in the ninth inning.

Newcomer Joaquin Benoit saved 24 games in 26 opportunities for the Tigers in 2013 and converted 11 out of 12 save chances for the Padres in 2014.

"When he gets going, he's really good, so we've got a lot of options," Martinez said.

* Adam Eaton's progress in his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee has become a daily question in Martinez's pregame session with the media.

"He's getting very close," Martinez said Sunday morning. "He's itching to play some games. He's actually gotten some at-bats in the minor leagues. He's doing really well, looking really good. But like I said, it's a progression."

Playing in games on the minor league side allows Eaton some latitude to focus on specific parts of his game. He might play an inning in the outfield, Martinez said, and then hit in three straight innings.

"Hopefully, we'll see him in a game here really soon," Martinez said.