Nats option Hill to Triple-A, reassign three others to minors (with lineups)

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Nationals have optioned right-handed pitcher Taylor Hill to Triple-A Syracuse and reassigned right-handers Eric Fornataro, Mitch Lively, and Scott McGregor to minor league camp.

Hill, 26, made three appearances this spring, allowing two earned runs on five hits in four innings, while striking out five, walking none and hitting two batters.

A sixth-round pick by the Nationals in 2006, Hill rejoins Syracuse, where he was 11-7 with a 2.81 ERA in 24 starts last season. He made in his major league debut with the Nationals last June and was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in three appearances, including one start.

The Nationals claimed Fornataro off waivers from the Cardinals in November. He was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for free agent reliever Casey Janssen in late January. Fornataro, 27, posted a 4.66 ERA in eight games with the Cardinals last year. He yielded six runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings this spring.

Originally a 16th-round draft pick by the Rockies in 2007, Lively spent the past seven seasons in the Giants system before his release last July. The Nationals signed him and sent him to Syracuse, where he was 5-2 with a 3.86 ERA in nine games. He gave up four runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings in two games during this exhibition season.

McGregor, 28, allowed three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk in two innings this spring. He was 1-2 in with a 3.91 ERA in four starts in Syracuse last year.

Max Scherzer makes his third start of the exhibition season against the Astros today. He's given up two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work so far. He should pitch into the fourth inning. Wilson Ramos made the trip to Kissimmee to catch Scherzer for the second time as the new batterymates continue to familiarize themselves with each other.

For the Nationals:

CF Michael Taylor
2B Dan Uggla
1B Tyler Moore
C Wilson Ramos
LF Clint Robinson
DH Mike Carp
SS Danny Espinosa
3B Matt Skole
RF Tony Gwynn Jr.
RHP Max Scherzer

For the Astros:

DH Jose Altuve
RF George Springer
3B Luis Valbuena
LF Evan Gattis
SS Jed Lowrie
1B Jon Singleton
2B Marwin Gonzalez
C Hank Conger
CF Jake Marisnick
RHP Asher Wojceiechowski