Baker reviews Scherzer's simulated game (Nats win 5-4)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Nationals 5, Astros 4

Recap: Adam Eaton, Bryce Harper and Drew Ward each homered ... Harper homered for the third straight game ... Joe Ross tossed four scoreless innings ... Jacob Turner allowed four runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings of work ... Andrew Stevenson smacked a walk-off RBI single to left-center in the bottom of the ninth to score Wilmer Difo from third base.

Need to know: Joe Nathan, who is battling for one of the sacred spots in the Nats bullpen, tossed one inning of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit, issued a walk and picked up a strikeout to retire the Astros' half of the fifth inning.

Up next: Monday vs. Tigers, West Palm Beach, 1 p.m.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Between innings of his simulated game this morning, Max Scherzer prowled around the small fenced-in dugout on the first base side of Field 5 like a caged tiger eager for his next feeding.

Manager Dusty Baker, seated nearby on a golf cart, took note of Scherzer's restlessness and proclaimed it a good thing.

"Max tells you a lot in his body language," Baker said of the 28-pitch session that was representative of two innings of work. "I don't know how pleased he was, but he wasn't disappointed, which is equally good. The main thing is we want him feeling good. If he feels good, Max is going to be Max."

As with his live batting practice session Tuesday, there were some ups and downs. Scherzer had a little trouble controlling his fastball at times, but still had enough juice to strike out top hitting prospect Victor Robles with a high strike to end the first. In the second, after Wilmer Difo had singled to left, Scherzer got Raudy Read to ground into a 5-4-3 double play.

Scherzer looked over to pitching coach Mike Maddux, who was seated behind home plate in back of a protective screen with general manager Mike Rizzo, senior adviser Bob Boone and bullpen coach Dan Firova. Scherzer signaled to Maddux, asking whether he'd thrown his last pitch of the day and Maddux replied with the same gesture.

Neither Maddux nor Scherzer were made available to the media after the session, but Baker was pleased with what the eye test showed him.

"He looked pretty sharp," Baker said.

As for Scherzer's next step in his recovery from a slow-healing fractured knuckle on his right ring finger, Baker said he would defer to Maddux based on how Scherzer feels in the next couple of days.

But the manager said that another simulated game of longer duration would probably be in order, not a first start against Grapefruit League competition.

"Just got to wait a couple of days to see how he feels," Baker said. "Probably he'll throw another one. Try to pump him up to three innings."

Baker wouldn't designate a certain number of games Scherzer has to throw in spring training before he'd be ready to pitch in the rotation once the regular season opens. Scherzer would likely be the opening day starter April 3 against the Marlins at Nationals Park - but in order to do so, he'd need to ramp up innings against major league hitters.

On Sunday, Baker made sure he had guys like Difo and José Lobaton sprinkled into the collection of minor leaguers Scherzer was facing to get a better read on his progress.

"The main thing is that he's on the mound throwing at somebody," Baker said. "It doesn't matter where he does it, here or there. A lot of times, facing those (minor league) kids is harder than facing these guys up here."

* FanRagSports.com reported last night that the Nationals have placed catcher Derek Norris on waivers. It's unlikely that anyone would claim Norris because of his $4.2 million salary, but the Nationals would be responsible for only one-sixth of that total, about $700,000, if they release Norris before March 15.

Norris was acquired from the Padres on Dec. 2 for a minor league pitcher to be the Nationals' starting catcher, but the Nats' signing of free agent Matt Wieters last month created a logjam behind the plate and may have made Norris the odd man out.

Should Norris be released, the Nationals would likely begin the season with Wieters and Lobaton as their catchers, with prospect Pedro Severino at Triple-A Syracuse.