Nats set rotation order, plus Fister note

By Pete Kerzel

Nationals

April 08, 2014, 2:09pm

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The Nationals have set their rotation for the next five games, starting with tonight's opener of a three-game series against the Marlins.

After left-hander Gio Gonzalez faces the Fish tonight, the Nationals will use right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg for the final two games of the home series. Righties Tanner Roark and Taylor Jordan will start the first two games of the three-game weekend series at Atlanta.

Manager Matt Williams said Monday's off-day allowed the Nats to jockey the order to keep Strasburg on normal rest.

"He's our No. 1 guy. ... You certainly want your No. 1 guy as many times during the course of the season as you can get, " Williams said.

Williams said injured right-hander Doug Fister, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right lat, threw from 120 feet today and that "all indications were that he felt good."

The manager said Fister's next step would be to either to throw from a further distance on flat ground or throw to a catcher on flat ground.