Espino was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Espino may not have been able to do anything to win a big-league spot this spring, as he's been sent down despite posting a 1.13 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in eight innings. Rather than remaining in the majors in a relief role, Espino will stay stretched out at the Triple-A level.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Having solid spring
Rotowire
Espino gave up one hit and struck out one over two scoreless innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins
The 36-year-old right-hander had posted good numbers this spring with a 1.13 ERA and 6:1 K:BB over eight frames, but he's worked mainly at the end of games and faced minor-league hitters -- he didn't enter Saturday's contest until the eighth inning. Despite the fact he's made 19 big-league starts in each of the last two seasons, Espino doesn't appear to be in consideration for the rotation opening created when Cade Cavalli (elbow) was lost to Tommy John surgery. He might begin the year in the bullpen if the Nationals feel they need an extra long-relief option, however.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Crushed in final outing of year
Rotowire
Espino (0-9) couldn't escape the first frame in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mets, surrendering seven runs on five hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks in only one-third of an inning.
The 35-year-old right-hander saved his worst for last, giving up back-to-back-to-back homers to begin his final outing of the season. Espino helped hold an injury-wracked Nationals' rotation together down the stretch, but given his age and overall mediocre numbers, he likely won't factor into the team's 2023 plans other as an emergency depth option.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Works four innings
Rotowire
Espino allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out two across four innings Wednesday against Atlanta. He did not factor into the decision.
Espino had worked out of the bullpen in each of his last three outings and completed only one inning on each occasion. Therefore, he was pulled after only 71 pitches in Wednesday's outing, though he effectively limited Atlanta's offense thanks to six groundball outs. It's unclear whether Espino will stick in the rotation to close the season, but he has a 4.17 ERA with an 87:22 K:BB across 108 frames for the campaign.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Set to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Espino will start Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Paul Mancano of MASNSports.com reports.
Espino has operated out of the bullpen the past couple weeks but will rejoin the starting rotation Wednesday, at least temporarily. The veteran right-hander has a 4.24 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 85:20 K:BB across 104 innings this season, and he could have a limited workload in Atlanta given he's covered only one frame in each of his past three outings.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Works in relief
Rotowire
Espino allowed a run over one inning out of the bullpen during Wednesday's loss to the Orioles, and manager Dave Martinez said the right-hander will serve as a reliever for the time being, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The 35-year-old made his last start Sept. 6 against the Cardinals and gave up three runs over five innings, and Wednesday was his second straight relief appearance. Espino has an 0-7 record this year, but he's been a solid swingman with a 4.28 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 82:20 K:BB across 103 innings. He could return to the rotation down the stretch but for now has shifted to the bullpen.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Five innings in loss
Rotowire
Espino (0-7) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings against the Cardinals. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Espino was just one over the minimum through three innings but ran into trouble in the fourth. Brendan Donovan led off the inning with a home run, then Nolan Arenado singled, and Corey Dickerson and Nolan Gorman both doubled to give the Cardinals three runs in the inning. The outing was Espino's third straight without allowing a walk, but given the results in the strike zone, it's probably fair to say he's finding a bit too much of the plate. He will take a 4.28 ERA into his next start, tentatively scheduled for next week against Baltimore.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Punches out six
Rotowire
Espino allowed one earned run on five hits and no walks while striking out six across five innings Thursday against the Athletics. He did not factor into the decision.
Espino took advantage of a matchup against a weak Oakland lineup and racked up a season-best six strikeouts. He added six groundball outs, and the end result was his second start this season during which he's both completed five innings and allowed two or fewer earned runs. Espino has a 4.22 ERA with a 75:19 K:BB across 96 innings for the campaign.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Falls to 0-6
Rotowire
Espino (0-6) took the loss against Cincinnati on Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out four batters over 5.1 frames.
There were some positives to take from the outing -- Espino didn't walk a batter after issuing four free passes in his previous outing, and he fell two outs shy of notching his first quality start -- but the right-hander wasn't able to get his first win of the season. Espino made it through five frames with only one run on the books against him, but he allowed two hits in the sixth and watched from the bench as both runners came around to score following his departure. Espino began the season working out of the bullpen; he's been less effective as a starter but appears set in that role since he's started in all 14 of his appearances since June 12.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Shaky in no-decision
Rotowire
Espino allowed three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Friday.
Espino matched a season high with four walks in this outing. He threw only 44 of 84 pitches for strikes, and he put two of the first three batters in the fifth inning on base before reliever Victor Arano allowed them to score on a Manny Machado double. Espino has allowed at least three runs in five of his last seven outings. He has a 4.31 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 65:19 K:BB through 85.2 innings across 33 appearances (13 starts). The right-hander is tentatively projected for a home start versus the Reds next week.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Charged with fifth loss
Rotowire
Espino (0-5) allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three in 5.2 innings to take the loss during Sunday's matchup against the Padres.
Espino gave up just one run in five innings during Tuesday's start against the Cubs, but he was unable to generate the same production against the Padres on Sunday. Although Sunday's start was the right-hander's longest of the season, he allowed plenty of baserunners and didn't get any run support from the Nationals' offense. Over his five starts since the All-Star break, Espino has posted a 5.79 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 23.1 innings. He tentatively lines up to face the Padres again on the road Friday.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Effective in no-decision
Rotowire
Espino allowed a run on six hits and a hit batsman while striking out five in five innings of a 6-5 win Tuesday against the Cubs. He did not factor into the decision.
The lone run against Espino came in the second inning when Seiya Suzuki led off with a solo shot. Outside of the homer, he managed to keep the ball on the ground and stay out of trouble. It marked just the second time in his last eight starts the 35-year-old pitched five innings or more. Since joining the rotation, he's posted a 5.52 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 44 innings over 10 outings. His next start will likely be early next week at home against the Cubs.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Serves up two homers
Rotowire
Espino (0-4) allowed five earned runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out three across four innings to take the loss Thursday against the Phillies.
Espino surrendered a pair of home runs to account for four of his five earned runs in the rain-shortened contest. Out of 10 starts this season, Espino has allowed at least one home run eight times and multiple long balls on five occasions. In that same span, he has a 5.52 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 33:9 K:BB across 44 innings.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Permits four runs in no-decision
Rotowire
Espino didn't factor into the decision during Saturday's 7-6 victory over St. Louis, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Espino surrendered a single run through four frames but fell apart in the fifth, permitting four hits and three runs before being removed behind 4-1 in the game. Washington eventually rallied to erase the 35-year-old from the decision, though he remains winless and is yet to surpass 5.1 innings in any of his nine starts. Espino carries a 3.78 ERA and 1.25 WHIP through 66.2 innings overall into his next start, slated to come midweek against Philadelphia.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Last-minute starter Saturday
Rotowire
Espino will be bumped up a day to start Saturday's game against the Cardinals, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
He has a 5.29 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 14 strikeouts in 17 innings over four appearances this month. Erick Fedde (shoulder) was scartched from his scheduled start Saturday, but Espino last pitched July 25 so he can still make the start on normal rest.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Goes four innings versus Dodgers
Rotowire
Espino allowed a run on four hits and struck out two over four innings in a no-decision in Monday's win over the Dodgers.
Espino's lone mistake was a solo home run to Trayce Thompson in the third inning. The Nationals cobbled together a four-run rally in the fifth to get Espino off the hook, though he failed to complete five innings for the fourth time in his last five outings. He threw 54 pitches (34 strikes) in this contest, and he gets credit for quieting a strong offense. The right-hander owns a 3.48 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 48:12 K:BB across 62 innings in 28 appearances (eight starts) this year. He's projected for a home start versus the Cardinals this weekend, though he'll need to up his pitch count to have a realistic chance at qualifying for the win.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Surrenders four runs in loss
Rotowire
Espino (0-3) took the loss during Saturday's 6-3 defeat at the hands of Atlanta, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits with five strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
Espino kept a high-powered Atlanta offense off the board in every inning except the third, but Matt Olson and Austin Riley long balls proved to be an insurmountable margin for Washington to overcome. The five strikeouts match a season high for the 35-year-old who's now surrendered four runs in three of his last four starts. Since joining the rotation June 12, Espino has posted a 4.88 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 31.1 innings across seven turns.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Allows two runs in no-decision
Rotowire
Espino allowed two runs on six hits while striking out four in four innings during Sunday's extra-innings loss to Atlanta. He didn't factor into the decision.
Espino gave up eight runs in eight innings over his last two starts, but he was slightly more effective during Sunday's matchup. However, he didn't get any run support from the Nationals' offense prior to leaving the game and was forced to settle for the no-decision. The right-hander has posted a 4.85 ERA in 26 innings over his six starts this season but has yet to enter the win column. Espino tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against Atlanta on Friday.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Hit hard in loss
Rotowire
Espino (0-2) took the loss Tuesday as the Nationals were routed 11-0 by the Phillies, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk over 3.2 innings. He struck out three.
Four of the six hits off the right-hander went for extra bases, including two moon shots by Kyle Schwarber. Espino has served up six homers in five starts since joining the Nats' rotation in mid-June and has yet to last six innings in any of them, leading to a 4.91 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB through 22 innings in that role.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Allows four runs
Rotowire
Espino allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four across 4.1 innings Wednesday against the Pirates. He did not factor into the decision.
Espino allowed three of his four earned runs on the long ball, as he was taken deep by Bryan Reynolds and Daniel Vogelbach. He was otherwise fairly effective in keeping the Pirates' bats in check by recording six flyball outs. Espino has made four consecutive starts after beginning the season as a reliever. He's allowed eight earned runs across 18.1 innings in that span but has also served up four long balls.
