As the season wears on and the playoffs grow near, Nationals manager Matt Williams knows some late nights are in his future.
In addition to the team’s consecutive doubleheaders on Thursday and Friday, Williams and his staff must prepare for the National League division series, which begins Oct. 3. The team’s roster must be trimmed from 35 players to 25, the rotation cut from five starters to four. Those roster discussions have already begun, Williams said, and will continue over the next few days.
“We might all sleep here,” he said with a smile.
The process of constructing a postseason roster will be particularly challenging for Williams given the number of players who have contributed over the course of this season. Nine of the Nationals’ 11 relievers have made at least 15 appearances this year, and six bench players have at least 75 at-bats. There is not enough room for all of them on the postseason roster.
For those players in question, it is a harsh reality. After helping the Nationals get to where they are now, some might not be able to see the season through to the end.
“That’s one of those things that’s out of my control,” left-hander Jerry Blevins said.
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Blevins is one Nationals reliever whose spot in the bullpen is not secure entering the playoffs. Acquired from Oakland in the offseason, he has made 64 appearances this season with a 4.95 ERA. He has typically been used as a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen, but his role has diminished since the arrival of left-hander Matt Thornton in August.
Blevins pitched two innings in the first leg of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Mets, limiting New York to one hit while striking out five. He has struck out 10 of the past 15 batters he’s faced but said he does not feel like he is competing for a postseason roster spot.
“My mentality hasn’t changed,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that can get the job done, and I’m glad I don’t have to make those decisions.”
Infielder Danny Espinosa shared that sentiment. Despite starting at second base during Washington’s playoff run in 2012 and amassing more than 350 at-bats this season, he too could be left off the playoff roster.
If Ryan Zimmerman proves he is healthy enough to start at third base, Anthony Rendon would likely shift to second and Asdrubal Cabrera could occupy Espinosa’s role as a switch-hitting middle infielder off the bench.
Espinosa said he hasn’t spent time worrying about what Williams will decide.
“He’ll choose who he chooses,” Espinosa said. “I don’t feel like I’m auditioning at all. You’re either on it or you’re not.”
Kevin Frandsen, Scott Hairston and Rafael Soriano are other season-long regulars who could potentially be left off Washington’s roster in the first round of the playoffs. The Nationals would be able to alter their roster before the National League Championship Series and World Series, should they advance.
Williams was asked if being on the team for most of the regular season could carry weight entering the postseason.
“Well, it factors in,” he said. “The things that factor for me are opponent, who they have, realizing that this all can change from series to series. So we have to look at the first one first, who are we going to play and how do we match up with that particular team. So we don’t know that yet. We might not know that until Sunday. So what we need to do in the interim is get all of those guys in the games, get them as sharp as possible, get them at-bats, get them playing time, and make the decision when we have to make it.”
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
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