Perhaps the biggest change the second half of the season for the Washington Nationals is how solid the bullpen is. What gets lost in the three-headed monster the Nats throw out is the performance of Sean Doolittle as closer.
In 19 chances, he has locked down 19 games. Over 27 innings, Doolittle has scattered six earned runs. Not bad for a pitcher who last closed in 2014. From his presence on the mound to his involvement with his fiancé in the community, you could not ask for a better team player.
When he arrived from the Oakland Athletics in a trade July 16 with Ryan Madson for Blake Treinen and two minor-leaguers, the conventional wisdom was Washington would mix-and-match closers until they found the right choice.