Martinez critiques Cole, Fedde and Marmolejos

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The results may not have been particularly pleasing, but Nationals manager Davey Martinez liked the approach taken by right-hander A.J. Cole in his three-inning start in Tuesday's 10-5 Grapefruit League loss to the Astros.

Cole wasn't able to consistently throw first-pitch strikes, had some success getting his curveball over and never got into any kind of rhythm in his second spring start. He was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs on five hits, but didn't allow a walk and fanned four.

"His stuff was good, he just struggled throwing first-pitch strikes," said Martinez. "But I like what he was trying to do. I like the fact that he was really trying to get that curveball over and he needs that pitch. I'm glad he was working on it. That's why we have spring training."

Martinez's postgame critique should serve as a reminder that spring training isn't all about statistics and performance. Sometimes a pitcher comes in with a mandate to focus on a certain pitch; other times, it's about getting used to working with a particular catcher. Cole's 5.40 ERA after two starts covering five innings may be unsightly, but he remains the odds-on favorite to come north as the Nationals' fifth starter, unless the team reverses course and goes after one of the free agent pitchers remaining on the open market.

In another year or two, right-hander Erick Fedde will be challenging for a spot in the rotation. Had his 2017 not been cut short by a right forearm flexor injury that caused the Nats to shut him down in September, he might have been battling Cole this spring.

Fedde worked two innings Tuesday, allowing a run on Jon Kemmer's solo homer. He surrendered two hits, walked two and struck out one and kept the Astros largely at bay until the Nats cut the deficit to a run by scoring three runs on José Marmolejos' fifth-inning homer and two more on Adrian Sanchez's single in the sixth.

Martinez may be a newcomer to the Nats, but he recognizes the talent possessed by Fedde, the organization's top pitching prospect. But with Fedde coming off an injury, both Martinez and the Nationals are taking a cautious, long-term approach with his development.

"I like him, I really do," Martinez said. "He's got electric stuff and he's going to be a good one. I know he's coming off an injury last year, so we're trying to take care of him, make sure he's healthy and good to go for the beginning of the season."

Marmolejos has been around the organization for a while - the Nats signed the 25-year-old out of his native Dominican Republic at 18 when he went undrafted - and he has twice won the minor league Player of the Year award. Last season, he started the season on the 60-day disabled list with an elbow injury, then continued to produce when healthy and assigned to Double-A Harrisburg. He's a career .288/.359/.449 hitter in seven minor league seasons, but defense isn't his calling card and the Nats have tried him in the corner outfield spots to increase his versatility and value.

He was buried on the spring training depth chart at first base until the Nationals decided to slowly ease Ryan Zimmerman into Grapefruit League play and Matt Adams, signed in the offseason to back up Zimmerman as Adam Lind did last year, missed several days with a blister on his foot.

As a result, Marmolejos has amassed a team-leading 29 at-bats, producing seven hits and four RBIs. If nothing else, he's made an impression on his new skipper.

"He can hit and he loves to play. ... He swings the bat well," Martinez said. "He's another guy who's had some injury issues in the past, so hopefully he can stay healthy and get off to a good start."