Notes: Lefties bolster 'pen; Curtiss' speed

The role of a southpaw reliever can be a unique and nerve-wracking one. In the National League East, it involves facing the opposing club's best hitter -- more often than not a lefty -- in a pressure situation. During Tuesday's 14-8 win over the Braves at Truist Park, Marlins reliever Ross Detwiler faced one batter: reigning NL MVP Award winner Freddie Freeman. He struck out the familiar foe on three pitches, with the decisive offering a swinging strike on a 91.4 mph sinker low and inside.

Detwiler and Richard Bleier provide two reliable lefty options for manager Don Mattingly, who hasn't had that luxury in the past.

"It is nice, and I think veterans in general, the good thing about those two guys is they're going to make pitches, they're going to keep making pitches, they're not going to panic and like all of a sudden the game's speeding up," Mattingly said during a Zoom call. "I think we've seen it in New York with Ross. He gave up a hit or something happened when we brought him in, and he may have given up a run, but he doesn't panic, makes another pitch, gets a double-play ball and we're out of the inning.

"And that's what you get when you get the veteran guys. They just don't panic, and they just keep trying to execute pitches knowing that they just got to get the ball to the right spots and they can get their outs."

The 35-year-old Detwiler, who spent most of his career as a starter, is finding his niche as a reliever. His five-pitch arsenal has evolved over time, with his slider -- new in 2020 -- his most-used selection the past two seasons. Three of Detwiler's seven strikeouts this season have come on the slider, and it has a 41.7 percent whiff rate. He opened the Freeman at-bat with a slider low and in.

"I was told earlier in my career [that] it takes a little over a year to actually learn a pitch and have the confidence in it, and be able to throw it in every situation," Detwiler said during a Zoom call. "I think I'm finally getting to there now; wasn't quite there in Spring Training, but a little work with [pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr.] -- he's awesome at getting all the pitchers what they need, all the numbers in front of them, how to attack hitters -- whether it be heat maps or whatever. We go in there prepared and confident."

Unexpected speed

Right-hander John Curtiss got the rare at-bat for a reliever on Tuesday. Though he grounded out on a bunt to end the sixth inning, he recorded a 28.2 ft/sec sprint speed -- with 27 being league average and 30 elite.

That kind of speed could prove valuable should the occasion arise when the Marlins are down position players. Mattingly noted it's harder to use relievers as pinch-runners, especially a multi-inning arm like Curtiss, who will be available most days, but it's something for the coaching staff to file away. The same could be said for knowing the best hitting pitcher if a bunt is needed.

"This guy runs down balls in the outfield like crazy, and we've seen him kind of doing that in everything he does in Spring Training," Mattingly said. "When you watch his drills and stuff, it's full speed. This is a guy that you would use to pinch-run, or if you got caught in a really wild, crazy game to play the outfield or something like that, and you'd feel comfortable that he's going to run and catch a ball."

Finding opportunities to pitch

With the Marlins playing close games and turning to experienced arms in the bullpen as a result, right-handers Zach Pop and Paul Campbell, both Rule 5 Draft acquisitions, have been used sparingly. Pop, who had gone a week in between outings, walked a batter but worked a scoreless eighth on Tuesday that included an inning-ending lineout off the bat of Ronald Acu?a Jr. Campbell went 10 days in between appearances, and he struggled to find the zone in the ninth. Though Campbell hit a batter and walked two to load the bases, he had a chance to get out of it, but Adam Duvall committed a two-out, two-run error in left field.

Rule 5 Draft selections must remain on the active roster all season or else be returned to their original clubs. They cannot be optioned to the Minors for reps.

"It's a tough situation with those guys, and you try to do the best you can," Mattingly said. "I know [Stottlemyre] has little programs for them where they're getting on the mound like every three days and throwing light 'pens and touch and feels, and things like that. It's difficult to find spots. [We've] played a lot of close games. Obviously, there's guys that at this point we have ranked above them who you're going to go to first."