Finnegan back on mound after brief layoff

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Kyle Finnegan was back on a mound today, albeit a bullpen mound outside CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches as opposed to one inside the stadium.

Finnegan, who hasn’t pitched in a game in six days due to a back tightness, took his first step toward a return this afternoon when he threw a bullpen session. Barring any setbacks, the Nationals closer will appear in Wednesday night’s Grapefruit League game.

“It was something I wanted to keep going through, keep pitching,” said Finnegan, whose back tightened up on him after a weight room workout. “I don’t like to get off-schedule. But we thought it would be a better idea to let it heal completely, feel 100 percent. … I feel 100 percent right now. Just took a few days to let it calm down.”

A creature of routine, Finnegan normally would’ve made several game appearances over the last week. As he learned, though, a little break at this point of spring training isn’t the worst thing.

“I’ve been doing a lot of hot tub, which I’ve enjoyed,” he said. “It’s been pretty nice. They told me don’t do much of anything for a few days.”

Finnegan was off to a dominant start to his spring. In five games so far, he has faced 15 batters and allowed only two to reach base while striking out nine.

Assuming he’s back on the mound Wednesday, there’s still ample time for the 32-year-old to make multiple game appearances and feel ready for Opening Day next Thursday.

“I’ll be ready to go,” he said. “Usually you get seven or eight outings. I’ve already had five, and one on the back field. I should be able to get two more. I’ll be one outing behind everyone else, feeling good.”

* Jake Irvin pitched in a minor league game this afternoon, getting his work in on the same day Josiah Gray is starting the major league game.

Irvin, who has made four official appearances this spring (two starts), will get one more tune-up this weekend before heading north. Manager Davey Martinez hasn’t announced his rotation plans beyond Gray starting Opening Day and Patrick Corbin starting Game 2 in Cincinnati. But as things currently stand, Irvin could slot into the No. 3 spot, with MacKenzie Gore then lined up for the April 1 home opener against the Pirates.

* Zach Davies will start Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals, perhaps his final opportunity to make a case for the final spot in the Opening Day rotation.

Davies, who is in camp on a minor league deal, is competing with incumbent fifth starter Trevor Williams, who could be pushed into a long reliever role if he doesn’t start. Davies, owner of a 60-58 record and 4.36 ERA in 200 career starts with the Brewers, Padres, Cubs and Diamondbacks, has a 4.35 ERA in three Grapefruit League starts, allowing 16 baserunners in 10 1/3 innings but striking out 13.