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Washington Nationals name Blake Treinen closer

By The Sports Xchange
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Blake Treinen (64) pitches against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on August 25, 2015. File photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Blake Treinen (64) pitches against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on August 25, 2015. File photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Washington Nationals right-handed reliever Blake Treinen capped a perfect spring by earning the closer's role in a mild upset within the bullpen.

Veteran Shawn Kelley entered spring training as the favorite for the ninth-inning role and phenom Koda Glover closed quickly, but the steady Treinen was virtually flawless. In five spring appearances, he posted an ERA of 0.00.

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The Nationals kicked the tires on veteran trade candidates, most notably David Robertson of the Chicago White Sox, but decided to let their existing relievers duke it out in spring training.

Treinen, 28, went 4-1 with a 2.28 ERA in 73 appearances for the Nationals in 2016, finishing 17 games.

His emergence was viewed as an overwhelming positive, perhaps factoring in the injury history of Kelley (multiple Tommy John surgeries) and Glover (pitching with a torn labrum in his hip). Kelley is expected to be used in a setup role as the primary eighth-inning reliever, which would limit strain of back-to-back game appearances on Glover.

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