Williams announces Nats starting rotation for season, plus injury updates

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams has set his plan of attack for the team's imposing starting rotation. On Monday, Williams announced that new ace Max Scherzer will lead things off on opening day against the Mets. Now we know that right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg will follow Scherzer with lefty Gio Gonzalez next and tall righty Doug Fister rounding out what's been called a potentially "historic" rotation.

"There's no deep secret reason behind any of it," Willaims said. "Gio gets a chance whether he's four or five to go against the Phillies (in the second series), who have a lot of left-handed hitters, so he slots there really well. And there's no reason, other than that, to do it. We get to put Gio in there between Stras and Doug, and we're confident in that. We feel good about that."

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman injured his left shoulder during a spectacular diving play in the first inning of yesterday's game against the Cardinals. Zimmerman returned to play the second before exiting the game at the conclusion of the inning.

"He's going to go through treatment today," said Williams. "Today's his off day anyway. So we'll have a better sense after but talked to him this morning he said he's OK. He's feeling fine. Worst case scenario I think it's a couple of days but I think he'll be OK."

Zimmerman's sore shoulder is just the latest headache for Williams in a spring that's been filled with injuries for many of his star players. It began with new second baseman Yunel Escobar being scratched from the Grapefruit League opener with what turned out to be a Grade 1 left oblique strain. In that first game, center fielder Denard Span injured his core muscle and had surgery days later.

Next came third baseman Anthony Rendon spraining his left MCL on a tremendous diving stop in his third game. Closer Drew Storen followed with a bizarre left broken hook-of-hamate bone that occurred during hitting drills of all places. And that's not to mention the shoulder rehabs that outfielders Jayson Werth and Nate McLouth brought to camp.

"You can't take away the way they play the game," said Williams. "They play. If the ball's hit at them they react. It's the way it is. So you can't predict it you can't deter it. We just need to play and get through the games. With regard to Zim, he'll be good and everybody else is making very good progress so it's a good sign."

Here's the update on the walking infirmary that is the Nats, starting with Rendon.

"What he's doing now are regular everyday movements," said Williams. "We do a little bit of the side-to-side stuff to see how it is. What he's reported to us is he's feeling better about it but it can be a process. Ligaments attach things together so if you sprain one then it's going to be a little sore.

"We talked about we don't want to send him into a season too early and have it nag all year long and have him not play the way he wants to play the game. So it's important for us that he plays it the way he wants to play it. That's where we're at."

Span was out on the field playing catch this morning.

"Denard was really good," said Williams. "He ran poles yesterday which was good and reported feeling really good about that. He was in the cage with a fungo swinging as well."

Werth is again playing defense only in a minor league game. There still isn't an exact day on when the 35-year-old will take his first at-bat in a game.