Strasburg set for season debut Sunday, Scherzer playing catch

Nationals manager Davey Martinez had good news to report as he began his pregame media conference Friday prior to the series opener against the Orioles.

Martinez confirmed that Stephen Strasburg is back healthy from his right wrist injury and is set to make his season debut Sunday in the series finale.

"He just felt good," Martinez said of Strasburg during the Zoom video call. "He's been throwing. We got him ready for his start so he's on his regular routine right now. He said he feels good. Sunday will be his day."

Strasburg was set to make his first start of the season against the Yankees July 25 but was scratched with a right wrist impingement. He has rehabbed the injury and this week returned to throwing a bullpen session and a simulated game. The skipper had originally planned for Strasburg to throw 45 to 50 pitches in the sim game, but decided to dial it back to 32 so the right-hander could be ready for Sunday.

"He went out and threw a bullpen before he faced hitters. He said he felt good. So we told him, 'Let's not overdo it, because if you feel good, then your day will be Sunday.' He came in yesterday. Today I talked to him he said, 'I feel good, so let's go for it.' "

But Martinez was quick to point out the Nats will go into this first start with some caution because of the wrist and hand issue.

"We are going to watch him," the skipper said. "If he gives us 75, 80 pitches I think that'd be awesome. But we will keep an eye on him."

Martinez said that even though he will not allow Strasburg to get to 100 pitches, he is confident that the thumb and hand problems are completely healed.

"The tingling in his thumb is gone, so that's a good sign," Martinez said. "Like I said, he's throwing some really good bullpens. That was the big thing for me. Nothing in his mechanics has changed. Everything is good. Based on conversation with him, he feels good. He wants to pitch. He's ready to pitch on Sunday."

Martinez updated the progress of Max Scherzer, who left Wednesday's start against the Mets after 27 pitches due to a tight right hamstring. He said the right-hander is expected to throw off flat ground today and just play catch. We should find out how that went during Martinez's postgame media session.

"Max went out to throw right now," Martinez said. "I'll touch base with him after and see how he feels. He's going to be day-to-day.

"Max is Max. He's out there today, said he feels OK. He wants to see what level he is at. I'll talk to him more after he throws and see where he is at."

Juan Soto is back in the lineup tonight, batting cleanup and playing left field, after rolling onto his wrist making a diving catch in that same game Wednesday versus the Mets. Martinez said Soto came in for treatment Thursday and reported today he is good to go.

"He's good," Martinez said. "He's in the lineup today. I told him if he felt anything let me know. He said he felt fine."