Williams looking forward to Strasburg-Verlander, plus injury updates

LAKELAND, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg faces Justin Verlander in one of Major League Baseball's juiciest pitching matchups thus far this spring.

"Oh, yeah. It's a good one. Both those guys are pretty good. It'll be fun," Nationals manager Matt Williams said.

Strasburg wasn't able to make his last start after having an ingrown toenail removed, but he still got his work done on the minor league side. Williams doesn't expect Strasburg to deal with any ill effects from last week's minor procedure.

"He's over it," Williams said. "It could be sore. He's good to go four (innings) and we'll see if we can get his pitch count up there a little bit. They've got some guys over there that can hit, so it should be a good challenge for him."

A.J. Cole got the start last Thursday in place of Strasburg, but only lasted 1 2/3 innings, surrendering a solo home run and three additional hits with two walks. The 23-year-old is scheduled to take the mound after Strasburg today.

"He's got to up his innings and his pitches, too," Williams said. "We're turning into that point of spring where if we have back-to-back starters, then there really isn't a whole lot of reliever innings out there. But it's just the way it sets up and we have to get A.J. going, too, so it's an opportunity for him to pitch today after Stras and get his pitch count up, too."

Williams went through his normal injury updates as he continues spring training without Jayson Werth (right shoulder surgery), Yunel Escobar (strained oblique muscle) and Anthony Rendon (sprained left MCL).

"Jayson is hitting on the field today. Tees and flips. Threw yesterday with no issues," Williams said. "Yunel is taking grounders today, about 15 to 20 grounders at second base and throwing to first base, so natural progression there. Anthony is still sore, so we're cautious there. We put him on the treadmill yesterday. He ran a little bit. We'll see how he reports today and how he feels. As soon as he feels good, we'll get him into baseball activities."

Williams emphasized the importance of Rendon getting back into game shape in time for the regular season.

"If he's good by opening day, it doesn't mean he can play opening day," Williams said. "What we want to do is make sure that we get him in games and get him some comfort level and make sure his timing is good and he's able to play in the field, too. Then we can think about where he fits and when. But right now, we're just making sure his knee feels good."

Former Nationals manager Davey Johnson is in attendance for his first Nationals game since retiring after the 2013 season. He spent some time during batting practice chatting with Williams and right fielder Bryce Harper. Johnson said he watched almost every Nats game on television last year.

"It was fun," Johnson said. "I was addicted to it. I would check the paper. I don't think I missed but one or two games all season long."

The Nationals and Tigers are celebrating St. Patrick's Day at Joker Marchant Stadium. Both teams are wearing green caps and Detroit is also in green jerseys. Three-leaf clovers, not the four-leaf variety, have been painted into the dirt behind both sides of the batter's box.

Williams was asked what the holiday means to him.

"A little corned beef, a little cabbage. A little green beer on occasion maybe. And green hats," he said.