Gore and Soroka lined up to debut Saturday; Wood hopes to DH Thursday

JUPITER, Fla. – MacKenzie Gore arguably is the Nationals’ No. 1 starter. Michael Soroka is the Nats’ highest-paid starter. So why hasn’t either pitched in a game yet this spring, and why isn’t either scheduled to start any of the next four days?

“They’ll pitch here soon,” manager Davey Martinez said this morning. “We’ve still got time. We figured if we get them six starts here, they’ll be in good shape.”

So, this was by design, not the result of any setbacks?

“They’re both good,” Martinez said. “It’s based on conversations with them, what they need.”

Both Gore and Soroka confirmed that sentiment. Both have been throwing off a mound. Both threw Monday when the Nationals were off, with Gore saying he threw two innings against live hitters in the batting cage.

“It’s nothing off-script or anything,” Gore said. “I threw two innings yesterday. I’m normal. I’m just like everybody, the same schedule as everybody.”

“He’s been throwing since the beginning of January,” Martinez said. “We don’t want him, obviously, to overthrow. But he’s in a very good spot right now. After talking to him, he’s getting exactly what he needs. We don’t want to overdo it with him.”

Officially, the Nationals have announced starting pitchers through Friday. Trevor Williams faces the Marlins today, with DJ Herz facing the Astros on Wednesday. Jake Irvin then makes his second start of the spring Thursday against the Braves, with Shinnosuke Ogasawara (plus Mitchell Parker behind him out of the bullpen) making his second start Friday on the road against the Mets.

Next up on the schedule after that are split-squad games Saturday against the Cardinals and Marlins. It appears Gore and Soroka are lined up to start those games, which would slot them right into the existing rotation.

Soroka, who signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Nationals this winter, is a creature of habit, sticking to a routine he first picked up after he was drafted by the Braves in 2015. He proceeded to total 143 innings and 153 2/3 innings his first two seasons in the minors, which positioned himself well to throw 174 2/3 innings as a rookie in 2019 (when he went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA).

The right-hander’s career has been beset by injuries since, though mostly his Achilles’ tendon (which ruptured twice) as opposed to his arm. He still sticks to the routine he learned years ago and believes it will help set him up to pitch the entire season in the Nats rotation after he split time as a starter and reliever last season with the White Sox.

“It’s one of the things they kind of drill into you after you get drafted. Right out of the gate, the Braves let us go (150)-something innings my first two years in pro ball,” he said. “You learn how to do it. We were on the five-day schedule in the minor leagues, too, so you learn how to do that. I think that’s an advantage, especially now when guys are coming up from the minor leagues on a regular six days, sometimes seven days. Not knowing how to manage workload between outings makes a big difference.”

* James Wood continues to progress from left quad tendinitis, increasing his work on the practice fields. The 22-year-old is targeting Thursday to make his Grapefruit League debut.

“He’s doing better,” Martinez said. “He’s doing all the exercises. He ran a lot better. My goal is if everything goes well is to maybe DH him Thursday night.”