When the Washington Nationals hired skipper Dave Martinez last offseason, they were looking for a fresh approach to the game. Previous managers Dusty Baker and Davey Johnson were about as old school as it gets and Matt Williams was inconsistent with his decision making.
Martinez is widely considered to be among the analytical crowd, utilizing sabermetrics to make managerial decisions. So far, however, there’s been an aspect to his in-game management that hasn’t fit that mold: bullpen management.
Washington relievers have tossed a combined 31.2 innings thus far. Amazingly, 27 of those frames have both started and ended with the same pitcher on the mound.