Rainey and Harvey throw simulated innings at Nats Park

Most of the Nationals clubhouse was surrounding the back of the batting cage on the field at Nats Park at around 4 p.m. They were all waiting to watch Tanner Rainey and Hunter Harvey throw their simulated innings.

The plan was for Rainey, who is still recovering from last year’s Tommy John surgery, to throw around 35-40 pitches. Harvey, who has been on the 15-day injured list since July 16 with a right elbow strain, was set to throw about 20-25 pitches.

Jeter Downs, Blake Rutherford, Michael Chavis and Riley Adams suited up to step into the box against their teammates.

Rainey went first, his first time stepping on the mound at Nats Park since July 4 of last year, with pitching coach Jim Hickey watching behind him and the rest of the coaching staff and teammates behind the cage.

Downs struck out, Rutherford got a base hit and Adams went deep down the left field line. But those results didn’t matter, as Rainey seemed satisfied when he stepped off the mound after his inning.

Then it was Harvey’s turn and he was pumping gas to his teammates. You wouldn’t know it was part of an injury rehab the way the right-hander was firing pitches in there. When he was done, he was greeted by his teammates and had a short chat with manager Davey Martinez.

“Harvey and Rainey threw for us both today,” Martinez said during his pregame media session after the sim innings. “Harvey threw 21 pitches. He looked great. He said he felt great. So we'll see how he feels tomorrow. I think the plan will be maybe get him to throw another one on Sunday and then we'll go from there. We'll see how he feels tomorrow.

“Rainey threw 23 pitches today and threw the ball well. And he felt good. So we'll keep progressing him. I think he'll have two days off now and he'll go back and do it again. But he's gonna be with us for the next one as well.”

The results of the simulated at-bats are inconsequential, but their processes were important.

“The biggest thing we were watching was mainly their mechanics,” Martinez said. “Whether they're throwing strikes or not, following through, finishing their pitches. Like I said, they both threw the ball well. I'm not concerned about Rainey's velo right now because that'll come back. I'm more concerned about his mechanics. Getting his arm through, everything being connected. And that looked good today. His velo was good. And then Harvey threw the ball just like Harvey throws the ball. So I'm glad he's feeling better. Hopefully, if he feels good tomorrow, we'll get him back on there on Sunday and then we'll go from there.”

Rainey seems on track to make an appearance before the season ends, while Harvey might be ready to rejoin the Nationals very soon, even without a minor league rehab assignment.

“I mean, if he's throwing the ball the way he threw today, and pounding strikes, which he did, we'll see what happens. He's really close,” Martinez said of a possible quick rehab assignment for Harvey.

Harvey’s demeanor on and off the mound hasn’t changed. He looked intense as he was throwing heaters, and then he was joking around with his skipper once he was done.

“Yeah, he's good,” Martinez said. “He made a comment to me. He said, 'Well?' I said, 'You did all right.' He said, 'What do you want me to do?' I said, 'Start.' And he said, 'I could do that.' I said, 'You already did that.' But that's good that he could joke around. So he's in a good place. He wants to come back, I know that. He's itching to come back. He's bugging me to come back. So I told him time will tell. We just got to keep checking all the boxes for you.”

* Carl Edwards Jr. (right shoulder inflammation) was also throwing a sim game today, at the team’s spring training facility in West Palm Beach. Martinez didn’t yet have a report of how it went, but he said if everything went well, Edwards will go on a rehab assignment shortly.

Mason Thompson (left knee contusion) is playing catch and strengthening. The Nats hope to see him throwing off a mound soon.

Thaddeus Ward (shoulder inflammation) is stretching out as he continues his rehab. He threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session today and the Nats will look to get him up to 60-65.

The idea is to make him a long relief option when he returns with the six-man rotation.