Stephen Strasburg returns to the mound, Werth to play five innings today in minors

LAKELAND, Fla. - Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg returned to the mound this morning two days after he sprained his left ankle in conditioning drills.

"He threw a light bullpen today so all is well there," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "He'll probably do that again before he gets back on the mound in a spring training game. He's gonna be just fine. No issues."

Williams expects Strasburg to make two more Grapefruit League starts before opening day.

The Nationals have been without starters Anthony Rendon (sprained left MCL), Yunel Escobar (oblique strain) and Jayson Werth (left shoulder surgery) for most of spring training. Time is running out with just 15 days remaining before the start of the regular season.

"Fully anticipate Anthony being back for opening day," Williams said. "Yunel is going to play tomorrow. Jayson is working his way back and if it's not opening day for Jayson it'll be just after."

Werth will play five innings in a minor league game, but be limited to only work in the outfield. Williams says it's still a few days before Werth will see some action at the plate.

"We're looking at after the off day depending on how he feels," said Williams. "So he'll play the five innings today. He will work tomorrow, get the scheduled off day and then look to get in a game. Now what does that mean? It means he'll play defense. Take at-bats, not necessarily swing, but get at-bats. His spring trainings are a little bit that way anyway to start off with. He takes a lot of pitches. And if he walks, if he gets on base or whatever it is, he can run the bases and get into that way. That'll probably happen after the off day. It all depends on how he feels the next two days though."

The plan for Escobar is to play three innings and get two at-bats in tomorrow's game against the Yankees at Space Coast Stadium. It will be his first game of the spring at second base where he's only played 21 times in his career, all back in 2007 rookie season.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Williams. "He's been working in the infield with live fungos. We can put some live baserunners to make sure he's got that tempo. There's still nothing like going out in a game and playing though. The time before he got injured working with Desi was important to him. They did a lot of work together. I think he'll be fine because he's a good athlete so he moves well. The intricacies of playing are going to be important, getting him in there when Desi's in there so they can work together."

Williams says Rendon's left knee is improving.

"He is better," said Williams. "He is starting to do baseball activities so he'll start to throw, he'll start to run, he'll start doing the things that he needs to do, start to hit. With that type of nagging injury, it can stay around awhile. We're being cautious with him because we don't want him to go into the season with it nagging. His stroke come fairly quick because he's got minimal movement, short to the baseball. So it won't take him but 20 at-bats to feel comfortable."

Right-hander A.J. Cole will start today and pitch three innings. Tanner Roark is also expected to see two innings on the mound in today's game. Both will get a challenge as two-time American League MVP Miguel Cabrera is batting third for the Tigers today.