Paolo Espino’s fastball, which he’s throwing 58% of the time this season, averages just 89.1 MPH. He mixes in a curveball, 21.6%, 70.6 MPH, and slider, 18%, 77.7 MPH, and occasionally throws a changeup, 2.4%, 84.1 MPH, but nothing in his arsenal (with the possible exception of his 12-to-6 curve) really stands out as a plus pitch when you watch him work.
He just pitches. And yet...
Going into the series finale with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon in Nationals Park, Washington’s 34-year-old starter, filling in for injured Nats’ ace, Max Scherzer, had held opposing hitters to a .