Baker on Friday's cuts and Papelbon's illness

VIERA, Fla. - A.J. Cole was among the four right-handers cut from Nationals camp Friday, the second straight day the team has reduced its spring roster. All were packing their bags and exiting the clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium for the adjacent minor league complex before morning stretch began

Cole and Abel De Los Santos were optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, while Austin Voth and Wander Suero were reassigned to minor league camp.

Nats manager Dusty Baker was particularly impressed with how Cole, one of the top starting pitching prospects in the organization, integrated some changes suggested by new pitching coach Mike Maddux into his delivery. Cole threw a scoreless ninth inning against the Astros Thursday night, striking out one, and finished spring training with a 9.00 ERA in two outings.

"I liked what I saw," Baker said of Cole. "Mike Maddux made some mechanical (adjustments) with him and it showed up last night. He threw the ball better."

Cole went 5-6 with a 3.15 ERA in 21 games (19 starts) at Syracuse last tear and made three appearances, including a spot start, for the Nationals.

Suero, a 24-year-old who pitched last season for high Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, got rave reviews from Baker, who liked the way the lanky righty finished off his final relief assignment Thursday night. A scoreless frame left Suero with two scoreless innings with only one hit allowed in three outings.

"That was his first big league camp and I was really impressed last night how he threw strike after strike after strike in a 3-2 count," Baker said. "You don't really see that too much from anybody, more or less young pitchers. They were all quality pitches."

* Closer Jonathan Papelbon, who was scheduled to pitch the ninth inning last night, was sent home earlier in the evening with a virus that's been making the rounds of the clubhouse.

"So nobody else would get sick," Baker explained.

Papelbon was not listed among the pitchers available for today's game against the Mets, but it's a good bet the Nationals try to get him some work in the next day or so. Last week, he was excused for a day to tend to a family emergency.

* Right-hander Matt Belisle, who has been slowed by a calf injury and has not yet pitched in a Grapefruit League game, worked in a minor league game Thursday. He's in camp on a minor league deal with a major league invite.