Castro MRI shows "very mild strain," Nats trying out opener

Starlin Castro remains day-to-day during the final week of spring training after an MRI of the veteran infielder revealed a "very mild" hamstring strain, according to Nationals manager Davey Martinez.

Castro, who hurt himself running the bases Tuesday against the Cardinals, doesn't appear to be seriously injured. But at this late stage of the spring, each day lost carries more significance.

The Nationals, who face the Marlins tonight, have four Grapefruit League games remaining in Florida before heading north for opening night against the Mets in exactly one week.

"I'm not going to put a timetable on it," Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters, "but we hope to get him back soon."

Castro, who turned 31 on Wednesday, entered camp as the Nationals' starting second baseman, the role he was set to hold last summer before he broke his right wrist only 16 games in. Then on Tuesday, Martinez had him start at third base for the first time this spring, perhaps a sign the club isn't sold on struggling 23-year-old Carter Kieboom for that job.

Castro was due to start at third base again Wednesday but was held out for precautionary reasons while he underwent the MRI. It's unclear if he'll play the hot corner again before the end of the spring. In the meantime, veteran utility man Josh Harrison is starting there tonight.

"Obviously, we've got some options," Martinez said. "You'll see Harrison playing, you'll see Kieboom playing, you'll see (Luis) García playing, (Jordy) Mercer, (Hernán) Pérez. We've still got a few days. We hope to get him back soon. But these guys will all get the opportunity play in the infield. The good thing is, is that all these guys except for García, who plays second base, all these guys can play third base and play all around the infield."

* Tonight's lineup has a new wrinkle: Victor Robles is batting ninth, with the pitcher batting eighth. It's the first time either has occurred this spring.

Martinez said he wanted to get a look at Robles at the bottom of the order, essentially still batting in front of Trea Turner and Juan Soto (just not the first time through). Robles, who has impressed while hitting leadoff all spring to date, has considerable big league experience batting ninth, though the results haven't been good (a .204/.256/.329 slash line in 75 games).

"This is not really set in stone," Martinez said. "We may do something else. But I told him I don't want him to change anything that he's doing. He's done really well in the leadoff spot, and hit the ball hard and is accepting his walks. We want him to do the same thing hitting ninth. As I make these lineups up, obviously after the first inning, you really don't know where you're going to hit. You may come up third, you may come up fourth, you may come up second. I reiterated that to him as well. He understands."

* The starting pitcher batting eighth tonight is also an unconventional one: left-hander Luis Avilán, who is trying to make the club as a reliever.

Martinez is treating Avilán as an opener, with plans to have him pitch at least one inning and perhaps return to take the mound for the second inning as well before Erick Fedde (the originally scheduled starter) enters from the bullpen for a long-relief appearance.

This is another look Martinez said he'll consider using in the regular season, a bit of a surprise given the fact he's used an opener only once in his three seasons as manager (Matt Grace in front of Joe Ross in 2019) and the fact the Nationals have some of the most accomplished starters in baseball.

Martinez cited the shortened 2020 season and the return of Stephen Strasburg from injury and Ross from opting out as reasons to at least consider the possibility of an occasional opener this year.

"The biggest thing for me right now is the fact that, being last year being a shortened season, my concerns are building up so many innings with these guys early on," he said. "So this is a possibility that we're looking at, maybe giving them an extra day, maybe going bullpen day, things of that nature. Maybe having somebody else spot start, and then having to use the bullpen. So we're looking at all these different options. I want to be prepared for anything, because you never know."

* Gio González announced his retirement this afternoon, an abrupt end to the left-hander's pitching career only five days after he was roughed up by the Nationals in his lone appearance of the spring for the Marlins.

The 35-year-old was trying to make his hometown team's roster off a minor league contract. He entered in relief Saturday and proceeded to retire only one of the 10 batters he faced.

González finishes a 13-year big league career with a 131-101 record and 3.70 ERA. In seven seasons with the Nationals, he went 86-65 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.283 WHIP, averaging 30 starts, 180 innings and 174 strikeouts. The only other lefties in the majors to post a lower ERA in as many starts from 2012-18 were Cole Hamels and Jon Lester.