Strasburg, Ross get work in minor league games (Nats fall 3-1)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Cardinals 3, Nats 1

Recap: In the first half of their split-squad, two-town, day-night doubleheader, the Nationals' regular lineup faced a comparable lineup from the Cardinals. Both starting pitchers, though, stole the show. Jeremy Guthrie, trying to make the Nats roster as a long reliever, did not allow a hit over 4 1/3 innings, pitching around two walks and a hit batter. St. Louis' Michael Wacha, meanwhile, went five scoreless innings, allowing two first-inning hits and a walk but nothing else. The Cardinals finally broke through in the sixth and seventh against reliever Koda Glover, who allowed three runs on four hits. Jayson Werth drove in the Nats' run with a sixth-inning single.

Need to know: After an 0-for-3 day that included two groundouts and a popup, Matt Wieters is now 2-for-20 with one double, zero walks and eight strikeouts this spring. The veteran catcher has been trying to play catch-up since signing with the Nationals two weeks into camp, and it appears he's still trying to get there before opening day. ... Speaking of catchers, Brandon Snyder put the gear on for a couple of innings today. The utilityman has now played six different positions this spring: catcher, first base, second base, third base, left field and right field.

On deck: Saturday, vs. Astros in West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals are playing two Grapefruit League games today, but they still found a way to have two of their regular rotation members pitch elsewhere.

Stephen Strasburg and Joe Ross both pitched in minor league games behind The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, getting their work in against lesser competition and in a controlled environment.

The Nationals needed both right-handers on a mound today to line them up properly for the start of the season, and they wanted to avoid having Strasburg face the Cardinals too much. He had already pitched twice against St. Louis earlier this month, and his next start five days from now would come in Jupiter against Mike Matheny's club, as well.

So Strasburg faced minor leaguers this morning, as did Ross, who it appears is being lined up to be the Nationals' No. 5 starter.

In their places against major league competition today are Jeremy Guthrie (facing the Cardinals here) and Jacob Turner (facing the Marlins tonight in Jupiter).

Guthrie, trying to make a final case for inclusion on the opening day roster as a long reliever, impressed in his start. The veteran right-hander did not allow a hit in 4 1/3 innings, pitching around two walks and a hit batter to keep St. Louis off the board.

In other pregame news ...

* Erick Fedde was reassigned to minor league camp, one day after the organization's top pitching prospect tossed five scoreless innings against the Mets. It hasn't been announced where the 24-year-old will open the season, but he's likely to need some more time at Double-A Harrisburg (where he made five starts in 2016).

Dusty Baker made it clear Fedde will be in the Nationals' plans this year if they need rotation help.

"We liked what we saw," the manager said. "Really liked his aggressiveness yesterday. He didn't have his slider working as well as he would like, so he made the adjustments. This is what you like to see in a young pitcher, is to make adjustments like that."

* A.J. Cole threw a bullpen session, his first time on a mound since he gave up seven runs to the Astros on March 15. Cole had been dealing with triceps soreness.

* Joe Nathan is allowed to opt out of his contract today, but a decision had not been made as of this morning. The 42-year-old reliever was in uniform and participating in pregame workouts as he normally would. Baker said he hadn't heard anything yet, but that general manager Mike Rizzo was scheduled to speak to Nathan's agent.