Bullpen success never more important than in one-run wins

The bullpen has started to set itself recently.

After Saturday's contest, the Nationals' relievers had put together 8 2/3 innings over their last four games, allowing only four hits, three earned runs and one walk, and registering 10 strikeouts.

Then Sunday, Tanner Roark notched two huge outs, including a strikeout of Ruben Tejada in the seventh. Matt Thornton battled past two walks to get two outs himself. Aaron Barrett struck out Michael Cuddyer to end the threat.

As we noted on "Nats Xtra" pregame on MASN on Sunday, Barrett and Matt Grace came in Saturday night and took care of the eighth inning. Barrett struck out Juan Lagares and Grace got Lucas Duda to ground out. Closer Drew Storen then administered a 1-2-3 ninth inning, finishing the game with a Dilson Herrera flyout to left to end the game.

In a 1-0 game, Barrett and Grace are a good example of a situational matchup that worked to perfection. If the game was 3-0 and the Mets lineup had righty-righty-lefty hitters, Blake Treinen might have gotten the shot so he wouldn't have to face the tying run in the first at-bat. With that type of cushion, it would allow Treinen some leeway if he makes a mistake, which in turn might help build his confidence before dropping him into a high-leverage situation early in the season.

Thornton could be that seventh inning guy in a lefty heavy lineup. Grace can be the short guy later on, and Sammy Solis could be the long lefty, two or more innings. It's only been a few days and games, but the Thornton, Grace and Solis might be able to settle into a nice run and solidify the left side.

Barrett, long man Roark, Treinen and Storen can be a nice rotation from the right side. It makes it a lot easier when your starter can go seven innings, but this crew can still close out three innings if necessary. Just don't need to put some guys in situations they might not be completely comfortable with when you have other options.

But what is even more amazing is that all this work happened in low margin-of-error scenarios in one run games. They kept the Mets off the board in each of those wins.
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It is usually no coincidence when the Nationals play well, it's in line with Ryan Zimmerman being hot at the plate. Zimmerman has hit safely in seven straight games thanks to a base hit in his first at-bat Sunday in New York. He also scorched one off of Dillon Gee that would have been a home run if not for a spectacular leaping catch by Cuddyer at the left field wall in fourth inning. The Nationals are 5-2 in the first seven games of his current streak.