Rainey to make game debut today, Parra progressing well

Tanner Rainey will make his Grapefruit League debut at last today, a critical sign the Nationals reliever should be ready to open the season on the active roster.

Rainey's spring had been delayed by a muscle strain near his right collarbone. Though it forced him to slow things down early in camp, the right-hander resumed throwing weeks ago and pitched in a simulated game earlier this week.

With no more concerns about the injury, Rainey has now been cleared to pitch in a game. The Nationals will watch him closely but feel he's ready for the assignment.

"He's going to go out there and throw one inning and get up to probably 20-25 pitches if possible," manager Davey Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters ." If he pitches (the full inning) in 13-14, that's great. But he's going to face his three batters, and we'll see how he feels."

With 11 days to go until the season opener, Rainey should have enough time to make four or five exhibition appearances before opening night. He might even be able to pitch on back-to-back days next Sunday and Monday (the final two Grapefruit League games) if things go well, an important hurdle for all relievers to clear by the end of spring training, according to Martinez.

Rainey's importance to the Nats bullpen has only increased this spring. With Will Harris sidelined indefinitely after a blood clot was found in his right arm and veteran Jeremy Jeffress released earlier in camp for non-baseball reasons, Rainey is being counted upon to set up top late-inning specialists Brad Hand and Daniel Hudson.

* Gerardo Parra was supposed to DH today and test out his surgically repaired knee again, but then he was a late scratch from the lineup. Nothing to worry about, though: Max Scherzer just decided he wanted to hit for himself, so he and Jacob deGrom will literally be facing each other 11 days before they're likely to do so for real at Nationals Park.

Parra's physical progress has gone well to date. The popular veteran has been able to play the outfield several times, and he said he doesn't feel the need to wear a knee brace all the time when he's in the field.

At the plate, the 33-year-old is 1-for-7 with two walks and a strikeout. He also was part of a double steal Saturday night.

"He's actually been pretty good," Martinez said. "He's still about 85-90 percent. But he's moving around pretty good. We're trying to get him as many at-bats as possible. I know he's had some at-bats down in some of these sim games he's been playing, but getting in a real game for him is good. We get to see him run the bases. Yesterday, he stole a base off the back end. So he's getting there."

A non-roster invitee to camp after playing last summer in Japan, Parra is trying to beat out several others for the last spot on the Nationals bench.