Bleier and Espino shined with Triple-A Syracuse this season

Left-hander Richard Bleier stepped up well at Triple-A after his promotion this season.

With the Syracuse Chiefs, he made his first start July 27. Bleier went 6-2 with a 2.75 ERA in 11 starts (12 games). He struck out 25 and walked seven, allowing only 75 hits in 68 2/3 innings.

At Double-A Harrisburg, Bleier was 8-3 with a 2.45 ERA in 15 starts (16 games). He had 40 strikeouts and nine walks in 103 innings.

Minor league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart says Bleier is unique in that he knows what he needs to do to get guys out and doesn't try to be someone he is not on the mound.

"You know what the difference between him and most guys in his situation and with his stuff is that he knows what his stuff is and he doesn't try to be somebody else," Menhart said. "He says, 'This is me, here it is, try to hit it.' And it's such a wonderful thing to watch. I wish more guys would have that mentality. Instead of trying to miss bats, he goes after the bats. When your goal is to make them hit the ball softly, you're going to stay in the game for a long time."

Bleier features a sinker, slider, curveball and changeup.

"Not in any particular order," Menhart said. "The sinker is probably his No. 1. He gets the majority of his outs on the ground."

So a combined 14 wins at the minor league level deserves top recognition. He is 53-54 with 4.04 ERA in his minor league career. The Nationals signed him to a minor league contract in December 2014. He is 28 years old, 6-foot-3 and 215 lbs. Bleier is from Davie, Fla. He attended Florida Gulf Coast.

He has pitched in 229 minor league games and made 113 starts. If not a starter in the majors, he certainly is valuable out of the bullpen. His splits this year were actually better against right-handed hitters, which he faced most of the time, at a 2.26 ERA clip in 51 2/23 innings. He had a 4.24 ERA in only 17 innings against left-handed hitters.

Another pitcher who did well at Triple-A Syracuse was right-hander Paolo Espino, also 28 years old. Espino was 8-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 19 starts over 117 2/3 innings. He struck out 88 batters and walked 19.

In his final four starts of the season, he allowed only four earned runs in 25 1/3 innings. From August 6 until the end of the season, he went 5-1. His WHIP this season in all minor league games was 1.16. Espino was a 10th round selection in 2006 by the Indians. He spent seven seasons in the Cleveland organization and started pitching for the Nationals in 2014.

"He's another guy that is not afraid to throw the ball over the plate," Menhart said. "But the difference between him and Bleier is that he has a different feel for four pitches. He can spin the ball a little bit better than Bleier can."

Espino has been in the minor leagues for quite some time. Let's see if he gets a spring training invite in 2016. He has demonstrated that he has the ability to get guys out at the Triple-A level time and time again.

"The two most consistent starters we had throughout the organization, without a doubt," Menhart said.