Strasburg and Ross look good in simulated games at Nats Park

Manager Davey Martinez had positive updates on Nationals right-handers Stephen Strasburg and Joe Ross, saying they did "very well" during their simulated games at Nats Park on Friday.

Strasburg and Ross faced live hitters during early pregame drills before tonight's game against the Marlins.

Ross threw 25 pitches, his first chance to face live hitters as he recovers from Tommy John surgery performed last July.

Martinez monitored both simulated games from right behind the batting cage, alongside president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo. Martinez believes Strasburg could go out as early as Tuesday for a minor league rehab start.

"Stephen looks really good. We will see how it feels," Martinez said. "He might be ready to go out on a rehab assignment possibly Tuesday. If it works right, he will go out Tuesday, and we will see how he feels, and then maybe one more. But very encouraging. He looked really good.

"And Joe, I was tickled to see him throw as well as he threw really. He's got the Ross family slider is what I call it that was really good. That's very encouraging, as well."

Martinez was familiar with what Ross can do as a starter when he was across the diamond with the Cubs.

"He faced us. He was nasty," Martinez said. "I remember hitters coming back and saying he's throwing a bowling ball up there with his two-seamer. His slider, they called it invisible. Glad to see him pitching again and off the mound and doing so well. He's very excited about coming back and helping us win ball games."

Martinez said catcher Matt Wieters is going to report to Double-A Harrisburg and "probably" play for the Senators starting Saturday in a rehab assignment.

"He did well today," Martinez said. "Swung the bat, took a couple of swings and ran a little bit down first base because he really didn't stretch or anything like that. But he feels good. We wanted him to go get some at-bats and see how he does."

Martinez said first baseman Ryan Zimmerman is "not likely" to go out on a rehab assignment until sometime next week.

"He's progressing well and he's getting a little antsy now," Martinez said. "But we got to stick to the program and get him ready."

Martinez said second baseman Daniel Murphy is getting a day of rest after their daily postgame meeting in his office last night.

"We have this dialogue and he comes in after the games (and) we talk," Martinez said. "He said after yesterday's game (he's) available off the bench, but he needed a little blow."

Martinez also confirmed he is leaning toward Jefry Rodriguez to fill Erick Fedde's spot Monday night against the Pirates. Fedde is on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.

* Martinez is well aware of how he needs to monitor and talk with Gio Gonzalez as his start progresses because it can go from good to bad quickly. Martinez went with Spencer Kieboom as the catcher for Gonzalez tonight.

Against the Phillies, it appeared on a few occasions that Gonzalez was getting frustrated with the pitch call sequences from Pedro Severino, so maybe this change of the catcher will help Gonzalez.

"We talk a lot before he goes out there and as he's pitching we try to encourage him that, 'Hey, you are doing good, just keep that little man out of your head there'. Gio is a professional. He has won a lot of games," Martinez noted. "I expect him to go out there and give us seven, eight innings and be the Gio we know he can be."

So if Gonzalez succeeds tonight, would Martinez change to Kieboom as a permanent batterymate for the left-hander?

Martinez said both Severino and Kieboom bring good qualities to the game when they catch for Gonzalez.

"For me, I think they both have done well with Gio. Either or," Martinez said. "I know Kieboom, he tends to be able to communicate for some reason with Gio a lot. He really communicates with him a lot. This had nothing to do with Sevy and Gio whatever. This is just giving Sevy a day off. He's been catching a lot. Now that Kieboom felt better and he came in today and said he felt normal again, I wanted him to catch."