Nicolino finding September success pitching in relief
MIAMI— JustinNicolino’s literal perspective of baseball games has been different this month than it was most of the first six years of his professional career and, really, different than it has been since whenever he started playing as a kid.
Tucked away in the bullpen at Marlins Park, Nicolino— a lifelong starting pitcher until less than two weeks ago — is surrounded by green walls that might as well be break-in-case-of-emergency glass. He has made three relief appearances, all on days when theMarlins’ starter failed to make it through the fourth inning, and he has found success, giving up one run in 6 innings.
“It’s different, because when the phone is ringing, you don’t know who it’s going to be [for],” Nicolino said. “My whole life, I’ve started. You get used to a routine. Now, some days I get to the ballpark and I don’t knowwhat Iwant to do, because I don’t know whatis going tohappenfor the game.”
The Marlins have liked what they’ve seen, albeit in too small of a sample size to draw any conclusions aboutNicolino’s long-term future. The 24-year-old lefty said he would prefer to start, as most pitchers would, and manager Don Mattingly said the team would rather have him start, too.
Nicolino is very much still learning how to be a reliever, how to handle himself before, during and between games. He stretches with the other pitchers like he always has but has abandoned his five-day starter’s routine. He is pitching from the stretch full-time, as opposed to strictlywhenrunners are on base. And — without having to save anything for later in the game — he is going to his cutter more often, muchto his liking.
“He can go at them with his best stuff,” said catcher J.T. Realmuto, who noted withsomeextra restNicolino’s fastball has shown more life as well. “Coming out of the bullpen, he’s not going to have to face guys three or four times, so right from the first batter hecanmixitupright away, throw the pitches he wants to throw and not have to save it for later.”
The results have been solid. Nicolino has struck out asmany batters (six) as he has allowed to reach base. His line-drive rate is about a quarter of what it was when he started earlier in the season (13 games, 5.48 ERA). And batters are hitting just .167 with a .231 on-base percentage and .167 slugging mark against him.
Nicolino’s opponents this year slashed .279/.322/.452 the first time he went through the order as a starter, .305/.348/.448 the second time and .403/.429/.569 the third time.
Minor league honors
The Marlins on Friday named third baseman Brian Anderson their minor league player of the year and right-handed starter Luis Castillo their minor league pitcher of the year.