Baker hints at opening day start for Scherzer, sets plans for Zimmerman

VIERA, Fla. - New Nationals manager Dusty Baker has been coy about naming his opening day starting pitcher, even though everyone expects right-hander Max Scherzer to take the ball on April 4 at Turner Field in Atlanta.

On the first day of spring training, when asked if he was ready to name his opening day starter, Baker declined. But on Sunday, he gave a more firm indication that Scherzer may draw the assignment for a second straight year after signing a seven-year, $210 million contract.

"He was opening day before I got here," Baker said. "You just want me to name him."

Reminded by a reporter that he needed Baker to make the proclamation clear - even official - the manager returned to silence.

It's no secret that Baker has enjoyed watching Scherzer work through the early stages of camp, and it would hardly qualify as a surprise if Baker didn't make a formal announcement sometime in the next week or so.

"He comes to pitch," Baker said. "Guys like playing behind him. I watched him on TV last year. I watched him every chance I got. I like watching baseball and I like watching guys who have a chance to throw a no-hitter almost every time out."

Scherzer last year became the fifth pitcher in major league history to throw two no-hitters in the same regular season, joining Johnny Vander Meer (1938), Allie Reynolds (1951), Virgil Trucks (1952) and Nolan Ryan (1973).

For the first time this spring, Baker wrote Ryan Zimmerman's name on his lineup card, putting him at designated hitter and batting him cleanup for today's game against the Cardinals. The Nationals have taken it slow with the first baseman while they monitor and treat persistent plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

"He's doing fine, he's feeling great," Baker said of Zimmerman. "He's champing to get in the lineup, but I decided the wait. If a guy was hurt or feeling something, I like to wait an extra day. Most of the time, they're going to come back a little early, so I just wanted to make sure he passed all the tests that he's been going through."

Baker said Zimmerman would DH for a couple of games before returning to first base.