Strasburg will start on schedule, but in simulated game

Stephen Strasburg won't miss any time with a left calf strain and will make his next start Friday on schedule. But the Nationals right-hander won't be doing it in a Grapefruit League game.

Strasburg will throw four innings in a simulated game against teammates prior to the Nationals' official 6:05 p.m. exhibition against the Astros, manager Davey Martinez revealed this morning.

"He says he feels fine," Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "But we want to make sure that we can keep him under control."

Strasburg had to depart Sunday's start against the Astros after landing awkwardly on his left leg following a pitch in the third inning. He described the injury as a minor calf strain and was told by doctors it wouldn't require any long-term recovery.

Strasburg tested the leg out Wednesday during a bullpen session on the Nationals' off-day and reported no issues. That cleared him to pitch as scheduled Friday on regular rest.

Because of off-days and the upcoming schedule leading into the regular season, the Nats could've given Strasburg a couple extra days to let the calf heal. But because Wednesday's throwing session went so well, they elected to keep him right on turn and not force any alterations to their rotation plans.

"It was all depending on how he felt," Martinez said. "He threw a bullpen the other day and felt good. He had no issues. And he threw the ball well."

In keeping Strasburg on a back field in a simulated game instead of inside The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for a Grapefruit League game, the Nationals will ensure the right-hander can get an appropriate amount of work while remaining in a controlled environment where coaches can end an inning prematurely if his pitch count gets too high. They want to make sure he gets up and down four times, taking breaks between each half-inning, and builds his pitch count up to 50-55.

And if all goes well, Strasburg would then remain on track to open the season as planned, with at least one more exhibition start before he makes his 2021 debut.

Martinez has not yet announced his opening night starter. For what it's worth, Strasburg has been pitching the day before Max Scherzer throughout the spring, though the manager has cautioned not to read anything into that.

With Jon Lester making his game debut this afternoon against the Mets, the Nationals decided to have Joe Ross and Erick Fedde pitch in a simulated game this morning so each right-hander could remain on his normal schedule. Ross still projects as the No. 5 starter to begin the season, but Fedde has been pitching in relief on those same days in case he's needed instead.

The decision to have Strasburg return in the simulated game means the Nationals will now start non-roster invitee Paolo Espino in Friday night's game against the Astros.

Tanner Rainey, meanwhile, also threw 22 pitches in this morning's simulated game, recording five outs, according to Martinez. The reliever has not yet made his Grapefruit League debut, but he should be on track to cross that off the checklist in the next few days.