ATLANTA ¨C As is often the case, it seems a move to the bullpen has suited Nationals right-hander Patrick Murphy. And a waiver move from Toronto to Washington seems to be working out pretty well too.

The combination may mean a significant role for Murphy going forward.

Murphy, 26, flashed his power stuff in a valuable 2 2/3-inning stint on Wednesday night. He struck out four of the 10 batters he faced without allowing a hit, settling things after starter Sean Nolin was ejected.

He was a waiver claim from the Blue Jays last month, but if he keeps pitching like that, there¡¯s a chance for him to play a significant role in the Nationals' bullpen beyond 2021.

Murphy was a starter through 2019 in the Blue Jays' system, pitching mostly effectively, but not overpowering hitters. He got a cup of coffee with Toronto as a reliever in 2020, and that started to change. Since joining the Nationals, he has 16 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings. Murphy is averaging over 96 mph on both his two-seam and four-seam fastballs, and he has cut back to throwing fastballs and curveballs almost exclusively.

¡°I told him from the get-go,¡± said manager Dave Martinez, ¡°I said, 'Look, you¡¯re going to pitch one inning, maybe one-plus innings. But you¡¯re going to be ready and available.' And he accepted that.¡±

They needed more from him on Wednesday, but that¡¯s likely to be the exception rather than the rule going forward. There¡¯s plenty of opportunity in the Washington bullpen, both this year and next, and Murphy is looking to seize on that.

House raking

Brady House, the Nationals¡¯ first-round pick in July¡¯s Draft and the organization¡¯s No. 3-rated prospect, seems to be taking to professional baseball extremely well.

House, 18, has tallied at least one hit in 10 of his 11 games for the Nationals¡¯ Rookie-level affiliate in the Florida Complex League. He has three homers, three doubles and five walks with eight strikeouts in 43 plate appearances -- good for a .372/.438/.651 batting line. And he¡¯s done it all while playing shortstop.

House was the No. 11 overall pick in the Draft out of Winder-Barrow High School (Ga.), but he was rated much more highly than that in most pre-Draft rankings.