Bullpen thin today, but help could be coming soon

Asked during his pregame Zoom session with reporters around 2:15 p.m. who he planned to have pitching the late innings today if the Nationals hold a lead, Davey Martinez laughed like a manager who knew there was no simple answer to that question.

"Actually, I've got a meeting at 3 o'clock with (pitching coach Jim) Hickey, so we're going to start figuring this stuff out," Martinez said.

Suffice it to say, the situation is more complicated than it normally would be. Four key late-inning Nationals relievers are currently on the injured list (Daniel Hudson, Tanner Rainey, Kyle Finnegan, Will Harris) and closer Brad Hand has thrown 43 total pitches over the last three days.

It doesn't stop there. Austin Voth has pitched three of the last four days, totaling 39 pitches. And Sam Clay has thrown 47 pitches over the last two days.

So who does that leave? Wander Suero, Kyle McGowin, Ryne Harper, Jefry Rodriguez, and the recently added Andres Machado and Kyle Lobstein. Martinez may have no choice but to entrust some important innings to one or more of them this afternoon against the Rays.

"Some of these guys were pitching at Triple-A and were pitching in high-leverage (spots)," the manager said. "I watched them and they did well. Some of these guys might have to step up today and pitch in a high-leverage situation if we need them."

It's an unenviable position for Martinez, but there is potentially help coming relative soon. Both Hudson and Finnegan have made strides in recent days toward returning to the active roster.

Hudson, who has been out since June 10 with right elbow inflammation, threw 25 pitches off the bullpen mound today, the first time he's done so since landing on the 10-day IL. He's scheduled to go through that same routine again Friday, after which he may be ready to face live hitters.

Finnegan, meanwhile, is eligible to come off the IL on Thursday when the Nationals open a big four-game holiday weekend series with the Dodgers. The right-hander, who has a mild hamstring strain, has thrown off the mound and may not need much more work than that to merit activation.

"He's getting close," Martinez said. "He threw a bullpen yesterday, he's going out there again today. We'll see how he feels and then we'll go from there. But I think he's getting really close."

And in more encouraging rehab news, Stephen Strasburg gave a positive report on his 40-pitch bullpen session earlier this week and is scheduled to get back on the mound to throw 50 to 55 pitches Friday, according to Martinez.