Matt Grace is DC Baseball’s Best Kept Secret

Recently an entertainer in World Wrestling Entertainment named Buddy Murphy began calling himself “Professional Wrestling’s Best Kept Secret” – with all due respect to his creative catchphrase, I believe we should start calling Washington Nationals’ reliever Matt Grace “D.C. Baseball’s Best Kept Secret”.

Last season Grace was quietly effective for the Nationals, producing a 4.32 ERA, 1.360 WHIP and 31 strikeouts against 18 walks over 50 innings pitched.  An 8th round pick by Washington in the 2010 MLB Draft from UCLA, Grace steadily rose through Washington’s minor league system before reaching the majors in 2015.  The 29-year-old Grace does a solid job minimizing home runs and inducing ground balls, with a career 61.1% ground ball ratio.  Grace is especially effective against left-handed hitters, allowing a meager .232/.315/.235 batting line in 2017.

In addition, Grace brings a unique element to the Nationals’ relief corps, notably his ability to throw multiple innings, as he threw 2 or more innings 8 separate times in 2017.  Grace does not overwhelm with his pure stuff, as his sinking fastball sits around 91mph and he has a good, but not great slider; however he locates his pitches well and has some natural deception in his delivery to disrupt opposing hitters’ rhythm.

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The National League East is filled with many top left-handed batters, namely Freddie Freeman, Jay Bruce and Michael Conforto – Matt Grace should see plenty of opportunities this summer to try and neutralize these talented lefties.  Also, Washington’s lack of a solid #5 starter and the absence of a true long-reliever should also give Grace multiple opportunities to pitch this season.  Therefore, the team’s bullpen will be counting on Grace’s ability to both neutralize quality left-handed hitters and occasionally pitch multiple innings in 2018.

Much like a Swiss Army Knife, you do not realize how valuable Matt Grace’s versatility is until you need him and Washington will be counting on him as a vital component of their relief corps this season.  Now, is there any chance we can convince him to enter each game to a loud “shushing” sound?

*Originally published at MASNSports.com on 4/6/18*

15 thoughts on “Matt Grace is DC Baseball’s Best Kept Secret

  1. Grace is hardly a “Swiss Army Knife.” His career splits (.305/.371/.481 vs RHB, .241/.304/.251 vs LHB) indicate that he is a classic LOOGY, and that the LAST thing he should be is a multi inning reliever. He pitched multiple innings frequently last year because Dusty usually brought him in when the team was already behind and he needed someone to mop up. It’s too early to declare him to be better than Solis, but if indeed he’s the 2nd best lefty they’ve got in the pen after Doolittle, the relief situation is worse than it already looks.

    • Hey Karl,

      All good points, and I agree. The Swiss Army Knife line was a bit “tongue-in-cheek”. Overall, I think Grace could have a nice role as a lefty guy and/or someone who pitches multiple innings in less high-leverage situations.

      Someone compared him to a lefty Craig Stammen, which while flawed, was rather thought-provoking. Thanks for posting!

  2. Let’s hope that April slow start is just that and the Mets won’t be the thorn in the side of club like the pitch calling by Davey Martinez New least favorite umpire

    • Team looked quite sharp the first few games, and quite disinterested in the lousy weather against the Mets. I like how the Mets are playing and don’t want to let them gather too much confidence early.

      • It’s April. When the losing streak goes on. You see another catcher go down for mets. Hmmmmmm.
        Friday the 13 th. Mtn dew kick start

  3. Kudos to Dusty using him in various ways
    Last season !!
    Mr Lerner. Pay Bryce on a two year deal
    Paralleling Mike Rizzo

  4. Look who is on the bump for Altoona tonight vs Burg!! Taylor Hearn. Pirates smiling

  5. Injured an arm diving for a ball in the outfield… Hoping it isn’t something major.

      • Tuesday thoughts extended.
        Interesting how Nats / Anderson utilizing Altiuna, Garcia Freeman andBoggetto in daily rotations @ Hags not to mention @ POTNATS the
        Davidson ,Carter K, Lora ,Meijia , Noll rotations . I thought Lora would end up being pushed to both sides of keystone DP to accommodate Kieboom.

        • Hunter Jones pulled out of XST to give Knorr some outfield relief with VR in medical exam review .
          Jones plays until Martinson comes off DL then heads to Burg?

  6. Good. Harvey up to join gaus , bundy cobb and .,.,.,cue Jimmy Stewart voice for Me Harvey

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