Strasburg, Suero to pitch in simulated game Thursday

Stephen Strasburg and Wander Suero will take the next important step in their return from injuries when they pitch in a simulated game Thursday afternoon before the Nationals' series finale against the Braves.

It'll be the first time both right-handers have faced live hitters since going on the 10-day injured list April 18, Strasburg with shoulder inflammation, Suero with a left oblique strain.

Both Strasburg and Suero had successfully thrown off flat ground and then off a bullpen mound in recent days, convincing the club's medical staff they're ready to ramp things up.

"That's good news for us," manager Davey Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "They're both feeling a lot better. The progression's going fine. So we'll get through tomorrow and go from there."

Strasburg is scheduled to throw 35-40 pitches, which should probably equate to two simulated innings. He'll face several teammates who will get in the cage pre-batting practice in advance of Thursday's 4:05 p.m. game at Nationals Park.

Suero will be restricted to 20-25 pitches and likely four hitters in total.

The Nationals could've elected to have one or both pitchers go on an official minor league rehab assignment so they could pitch in a competitive game. But they decided they'd rather keep them in a more controlled environment, not to mention one where the big league coaching and medical staffs can watch them their own eyes.

That may change following Thursday's session, though, because the Nats head out on short weekend road trip to New York to face the Yankees. They may elect at that point to send Strasburg and/or Suero on an official rehab assignment, though current protocols would require them to go to Triple-A because everyone on Rochester's roster is considered part of the same Tier 1 group the big leaguers are in.

"As you know, we're leaving after the game tomorrow," Martinez said. "So we'll make a decision on what the process is next for them, whether they go with us or they stay back here until they're ready to go on a rehab assignment, if they're going to go on a rehab assignment. We'll decide that when the time comes. But I'm pretty pleased that they're both doing well and they're both going to face hitters tomorrow."

Strasburg probably needs to build his arm up to at least 80 pitches before the club activates him, so he could be looking at starting at least three minor league or simulated games. Suero, as a reliever, wouldn't need to build up to more than 25 pitches, so it stands to reason he would be ready to rejoin the Nationals bullpen sooner.

"Yesterday he said he felt really, really good," Martinez said. "He was throwing the ball about 90 percent yesterday off the mound, so hopefully tomorrow it's the same thing."

* The Nationals' weekend rotation will include Patrick Corbin on Friday, Max Scherzer on Saturday and Joe Ross on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. Scherzer, of course, will be making his first start since the birth of his son Sunday less than two hours after he finished a 106-pitch complete-game victory over the Marlins.

Martinez said the ace right-hander has been coming to the ballpark the last two days to work out before heading home to be with his wife, Erica, and their three children. Because of that, the team didn't feel the need to place Scherzer on the paternity list, and he won't miss a turn in the rotation.