Lacking in trusted options, Nats 'pen taking a pounding

The Nationals had 12 pitchers sitting in their bullpen Tuesday night, but that doesn't mean Davey Martinez had an abundance of appealing options when he needed to call down there for an arm.

Of those 12 relievers, only two were on the club's opening day roster: Matt Grace and Sammy Solís. Only four of them have pitched in 30 or more games for the Nats this season: Grace and Solis, Justin Miller and Wander Suero.

Tim Collins has made 27 appearances over two stints in Washington. Greg Holland has pitched in 14 games since his midsummer acquisition from the Cardinals, who unceremoniously dumped him. Koda Glover just returned last month after missing a year-plus due to injury. Everyone else down there is a rookie.

So while Martinez has taken heat for his usage of various relievers over the course of the season, it's perhaps understandable why the rookie skipper was as agitated as he's been all year following Tuesday night's 11-8 loss to the Cardinals, one in which all 11 runs were scored off Erick Fedde, Austen Williams and Solís during only three of the game's nine innings.

"That's gonna happen with these young guys, but they're going to get an opportunity to pitch," Martinez said. "They gotta realize: If they want to pitch here, they gotta get outs. These are the things we have to see. I can't keep using the same guys every single day. These guys have to pitch."

As the final stretch of a meat-grinder of a season arrives, the Nationals do not have Sean Doolittle (still rehabbing from a foot injury suffered in early July). They do not have Kelvin Herrera (done for 2018 after injuries to both his shoulder and foot). They do not have Ryan Madson, Brandon Kintzler or Shawn Kelley (traded to the Dodgers, Cubs and Athletics, respectively, over a 31-day stretch).

Who does Martinez have at this point who has earned his trust? Maybe four guys: Miller, Suero, Holland and Grace.

Except Suero wasn't available Tuesday because he's still feeling the effects of a comebacker off his left hand during Saturday's game.

"He can't close the glove," Martinez said. "He has to be able to defend himself."

Miller, meanwhile, would've been making his third appearance in four days had he pitched Tuesday night. (He did begin warming up as the Nationals were attempting to mount a last-ditch rally in the bottom of the ninth.)

Holland also would have been pitching for the third time in four days. Grace did pitch for the third time in five days (which for him this season constitutes an easy stretch).

"These guys have done a lot for us," Martinez said. "I want to be careful with these guys, too. Some of these other guys have to go out there and pitch."

Trouble is, the other guys simply haven't been able to pitch with any level of consistent effectiveness. Collins melted down during Sunday's loss, serving up a grand slam to the Brewers' Christian Yelich. Williams, in only his second major league appearance, gave up three homers during the top of the sixth Tuesday night. And Solís, after loading the bases in the ninth via a walk, a bunt single and a hit batter, left an 0-2 fastball up to Yadier Molina and watched it soar to left field for the grand slam that drove a stake through the Nationals' heart.

"I've got all the confidence in the world in them, but they've gotta start making pitches," Martinez said. "0-2 homers? Can't happen. That can't happen."

Except it has happened. A lot.

The Nationals have now surrendered 15 home runs on 0-2 counts this season, most in the majors.

Who's a manager supposed to trust at this point?