Scherzer downplays importance of opening day start, Harper blasts first homer

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer was brilliant today, fanning six in five innings in a 7-5 win over the Astros. He gave up one run on a homer to Astros catcher Jason Castro and scattered three hits with a walk and a hit batter in his fourth start of the spring. Scherzer indicated afterward that, as good as he looked, he's still got work to do before the start of the season.

"There's times where I feel like I'm really on and then there's times where I start losing it and that's a product of pitching deeper into games," said Scherzer. "The amount of times you go up and down, you got to work yourself into that. That's why you got to continue finishing out these starts and get to six innings, seven innings before you actually start the regular season."

The 65 pitches Scherzer threw weren't enough for him, so the tall righty made his way to the bullpen to get in an additional 12.

Nationals manager Matt Williams has yet to name his starter for opening day, which is just 18 days away. In his seven previous seasons with the Diamondbacks and Tigers, Scherzer has never had the honor of starting opening day. Even coming off his 2013 AL Cy Young Award season, Scherzer didn't get the call for the Tigers last year. Instead, it was former AL MVP Justin Verlander who was given the ball for Detroit's opener a year ago.

I asked Scherzer after today's game if getting the opportunity to start the Nationals' opening day is something that's important to him.

"No, it really doesn't mean anything," said Scherzer. "Going out there and winning ballgames and competing in October, that's what means the most. That's the only thing that matters. Opening day is more publicity than anything."

Interesting answer, especially considering three days ago his rotation mate Stephen Strasburg told me that starting opening day was special and something he would tell his kids about.

Right fielder Bryce Harper mashed his first homer of the exhibition season in the fourth. The solo moonshot soared beyond the flag poles in right field and into the lake behind Osceola County Stadium.

"Alligator will get it later," Williams joked about Harper's bomb.

It's a good sign for Williams, who indicated a few days ago that the 22-year-old Harper was too "jumpy" at the plate.

"(Today was) better," said Williams. "Last four or five BPs have been better, so he's calming his lower half down. He'll get 40 at-bats and be right where he needs to be. He's getting better results. He's taking his walks. All of those things are positive."

Danny Espinosa picked up his third hit of the spring while batting from the right side against a right-handed pitcher when he doubled off Samuel Deduno in the first. Williams has spent most of spring training talking about Espinosa's increasing comfort level being more important than his results.

"The at-bats he's having are good because he's recognizing pitches," said Williams. "It's not easy when you've gone your whole life hitting the other way. He's only got 30-ish at-bats and he's doing well, and we're proud of him."

Out of options, Tyler Moore continues to make a case to be part of the Nats' opening day roster. The 28-year-old delivered his eighth extra-base hit of the Grapefruit League season when he doubled in the second inning. He was 2-for-3 with an RBI on the day and his hitting .387.

Kila Ka'aihue, playing in left field today, bashed his team-leading third home run of the spring on a 2-for-2 day that also included a RBI double.