No restrictions on Fister; Williams sets rotation, plus Strasburg update

Veteran right-hander Doug Fister returns to the mound tonight after spending 34 days on the disabled list with a flexor muscle strain in his throwing arm. Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated that there are no restrictions on Fister's start.

"He's not on a pitch count, per se," Williams said. "We'll just see how the game goes. But he feels good about it. He feels healthy. He's itching to get back and get going again, and so are we."

Fister was 2-1 with a 2.87 ERA in his first six starts of the season before imploding on May 14 when the Padres belted two homers and poured in seven runs against him in just two innings. That ballooned his season ERA to 4.31, and the next day he landed on the 15-day DL.

"I just want him to feel good," Williams said. "I'm sure there will be questions to him in between innings: 'How you doing? Are you feeling OK?' We know he's gonna work fast. We know he's gonna throw strikes. Control for him is important. All of those things being said, for me it's a health issue ... making sure that he doesn't feel any tightness. As long as that's the case, then he's good to go."

Fister's return likely means Tanner Roark is heading back to the bullpen. Before the game, Williams announced his expected starting pitchers for the next three days. Rookie Joe Ross will make his third start tomorrow in the series opener against the Pirates at Nats Park. Ace Max Scherzer is set for Saturday's matinee, with Gio Gonzalez on the hill for Father's Day.

Stephen Strasburg came out after yesterday's five-inning start at Double-A Harrisburg feeling good.

"He was out throwing today," Williams said. "He feels fine. He was really pleased with the way it went as we all are. He'll go to his bullpen and ramp it back up a little bit and see where he's at. And hopefully that's great too and then he's ready to go."

Strasburg could potentially rejoin the rotation Tuesday to start against the Braves at Nats Park.

Right-hander Aaron Barrett is still resting after being placed on the 15-day DL on June 12 with a bicep strain in his throwing arm. He has not begun throwing yet.

"We're making sure that we calm it down as much as possible and get him going again," Williams said. "With a reliever, it's not like building back up like a starter so we can take a little more time with him and make sure that he's good to go before he starts that."

Coming off their two-hit dud last night, it doesn't get any easier for the Nationals tonight, facing right-hander Chris Archer. The 26-year-old is 7-4 with a sterling 2.00 ERA, the second-best mark in the American League.

Williams knows the challenge his ballclub is facing, even drawing comparisons between Archer and his own staff ace.

"(Archer's) mentality is great," Williams said. "He's aggressive in the strike zone. He's got quality pitches. He throw the ball in the mid 90s. He turns it up when he needs to. He reminds me of Max (Scherzer) in that regard. When he needs to reach back, he can. But he throws strikes and he's gonna challenge our guys. So hopefully tonight we're ready for it and we're able to get some good pitches to hit and take care of it."