Martinez updates Scherzer, Zimmerman, Dozier and Robles

NEW YORK - Another positive update on the recovery of Max Scherzer from a mild rhomboid strain. Scherzer walked by reporters in the clubhouse after his pregame workout Sunday morning and gave a thumbs up saying "bueno" when asked how he was feeling.

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said a preliminary plan is in place to get Scherzer a sim game on Tuesday at Nats Park.

"He threw. He said he felt really good," Martinez said. "So, we will see where he's at tomorrow. I think tomorrow he either has a day off, we'll see, because as you know he'll push the envelope. Hopefully we'll try and get him a sim game maybe on Tuesday if all goes good. Right now it's all based on his recovery. So far he's been pretty good on recovering."

* Ryan Zimmerman took full batting practice swings Saturday and looked good. Martinez said the focus for the first baseman is on running and turning to test the right foot back home starting Monday.

"We will try and get him to run the bases a couple of times this week," Martinez said. "He's running. He feels a lot better. We got to get him to do all the turns, and first to thirds and things of the nature to see where he's at. Once we get him through that loop we will reevaluate and go from there.

"He says running straight he feels fine, fielding, fine, hitting, not an issue. So the next hurdle will be him running the bases."

It seems that the issues with Zimmerman's feet have become a chronic problem the last few seasons. Martinez speaks from experience when playing with a foot injury and says Zimmerman is cognizant of the ongoing problem.

"He has addressed these issues, doing all kinds of treatments, different kinds of things, it's just nature," Martinez said. "I've had plantar fasciitis and dealt with it for a while until it ruptured. After that, it took about two weeks and I never felt it again."

* Second baseman Brian Dozier is out of the lineup for rest, according to the skipper. It's a big week personally for the Dozier family. His wife, Renee, is expecting their first child, a baby girl.

"He's good," Martinez said. "I know he's expecting any time soon. Just giving him a couple of days off. Right now, I want to give him a couple days off. We got some tough righties, trying to get Asdrúbal (Cabrera) in the lineup a couple of times and get him going. I thought it would be perfect to get him to play these next two days."

* Center fielder Victor Robles struck out three times Saturday night and is hitting just .130 with no extra-base hits in August. Martinez said they are looking to get Robles to relax a bit in his at-bats.

"We are trying to get him to stay on the baseball," Martinez said. "He's opening up a little bit. So, we are trying to get him to stay on the baseball and not really think so much up there. Just see the ball and hit it. As a young player who actually start out well, I think sometimes he gets ahead of himself a little bit. He's another guy that really has to focus on just taking his walks, get good pitches to hit, and be ready to hit, and be ready to hit the fastball."