Martinez updates Taylor injury, plus notes on versatility and Cole

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Martinez had no significant update on the status of center fielder Michael A. Taylor, who was scratched from Monday's Grapefruit League game in Jupiter with tightness in his right side.

But for now, it doesn't appear as if the Nationals view Taylor's injury as anything major.

"Same as yesterday," Martinez said this morning. "He's stiff (on the) right side. They're going to treat him and he's going to be day-to-day."

The Nationals don't feel an MRI is warranted at this time, Martinez said.

Andrew Stevenson, who moved into the lineup in left field yesterday with Victor Robles shifting to center field, was listed in the lineup as the starting enter fielder for today's 1 p.m. game against the Astros. Until Taylor is healthy, Martinez can shift any number of players - including Robles, Stevenson and Brian Goodwin - into center field.

* One of the things on Martinez's learning curve in spring training will be figuring out which of his position players are versatile enough to play positions other than their usual spots on the diamond.

But that will be a process, since the Nats are only 12 days into the Grapefruit League campaign with two regulars - second baseman Daniel Murphy (microfracture surgery) and left fielder Adam Eaton (recovering from torn left anterior cruciate ligament) - still on the sidelines. Add to that the fact that first baseman Ryan Zimmerman is being eased into exhibition play to keep him fresher deeper into the season, and that's meant a lot of opportunity for other players.

Matt Adams was expected to get the lion's share of the work at first base early on, but was held out of several games with a blister on his foot. That opened more playing time for José Marmolejos.

Wilmer Difo has been getting a lot of work at second base, but he's playing shortstop today. Martinez said he'll likely try to get a look at Difo playing the outfield, something former manager Dusty Baker did last spring in hopes of creating a super utility player out of Difo.

Adams will also get some reps in the outfield, likely left field, the only outfield position he's played in his big league career (19 games, all of them coming last season for the Cardinals and Braves).

"I don't want to call them bench players - role players? - to move them around and put them in different positions helps our ballclub tremendously," Martinez said.

But the manager said it's important for the backups to first get work at their usual positions before moving around.

"I want these guys to get their legs underneath them, get their arms strong, before I start moving them around to other positions," Martinez said.

* Right-hander A.J. Cole, who makes his second spring start this afternoon, is out of options, so it's a good bet he sticks on the 25-man roster as either the fifth starter or a long man out of the bullpen. Right now, the Nats see him in the former role, and the 26-year-old has impressed his new skipper.

"He's got tremendous upside, that's for sure," Martinez said. "He throws hard, but his fastball's not straight. He's got good breaking pitches. The key for him is to work ahead in counts, throw strikes, and that's what we're asking him to do. So far, he's been really good."

The Nationals hope Cole can carry over his strong finish to last season, when he went 2-3 with a 2.86 ERA in his final five starts in August and September.

So far, Martinez hasn't noticed Cole putting any additional pressure on himself, something that can happen when a player is out of minor league options, meaning he would have to be passed through waivers if the Nats wanted to assign him to the minor leagues.

"I only know from what I've seen him, but he's been very engaged," Martinez said. "Getting a lot of work in. Communicating a lot more. I know him and Lilly (pitching coach Derek Lilliquist) talk a lot. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do the rest of this camp."