Updates on relievers, Robles and Braymer (Nats lose 6-3)

JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals are about to start getting a better look at the three pitchers who will form the back end of their bullpen in 2020.

Closer Sean Doolittle and setup man Daniel Hudson, neither of whom has pitched in a Grapefruit League game this spring while manager Davey Martinez slow-plays them into action, are both nearing their debuts.

Doolittle, a left-hander, has progressed through a side session, will get today off and is scheduled to pitch Sunday when the Nationals travel to Port St. Lucie to face the Mets. Hudson, a right-hander, will throw a side session today in West Palm Beach, rest tomorrow and should pitch Monday when the Nats host the Marlins.

Right-hander Will Harris, who was scratched from his Thursday relief outing when he came up with an abdominal issue on his left side during an extended side session, is progressing ahead of schedule, the manager said.

"Harris is actually a little better today," Martinez said. "We're going to re-evaluate him in a couple of days, but he might actually start throwing (in) maybe two or three days."

The Nationals had expected him to have to rest until the middle of next week before resuming baseball activities.

Center fielder Victor Robles, who has not played since airmailing a throw into the stands in Tampa against the Yankees on Wednesday, is experiencing some soreness. A precautionary MRI revealed no significant injury.

"He had that incident (against) New York and he was a little sore," Martinez said. "We took a precautionary MRI and everything came back negative. He's going to be day-to-day."

Count Martinez among those who have had their eyes opened this spring by left-hander Ben Braymer, who was added to the 40-man roster over the offseason after going 4-10 with a 4.53 ERA in 26 starts between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Fresno. An 0-6 mark with a 7.50 ERA at Fresno overshadowed a 4-4 record and 2.51 ERA with the Senators.

Martinez said the Nats will continue to stretch Braymer, 25, out as a starter, but would not hesitate to use him as a reliever should an opportunity present itself.

"He's a very intense kid, he doesn't like failing," Martinez said of the southpaw. "But I like what I've seen so far. Developing a really good changeup, which is kind of nice because he has two really good pitches: a ... two-seam fastball and his curveball is pretty good. Now he has the changeup that he's utilizing a little more, and I like it. Understands how to pitch. Moves the ball in and out, up and down. So he's one of those young kids we see a bright future for here. He's going to get a look."

With Patrick Corbin starting today against the Cardinals, every pitcher in the Nationals' presumed starting rotation has made an appearance.

Martinez believes gradually building up arm strength - particularly for his rotation members - is the best course of action. But he's eager to settle into the routine that will be created by a more regular rotation.

"The biggest thing is it helps us (develop) a routine," he said. "We know exactly what to expect and what to look for. It's hard in early spring to see where these guys are at. Now all of a sudden, they follow this routine and we actually know what we need to do, how we need to proceed forward to get them ready for the season. It's kind of nice to see them all out there competing and then getting back into that groove."

Update: Patrick Corbin made it through two innings in his Grapefruit League debut, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and no strikeouts. He threw 24 pitches, 11 for strikes.

His one mistake was a fly ball by Paul DeJong leading off the second. The ball got into the wind blowing from left to right fields and carried over the right field fence for a 1-0 Cardinals lead.

The Nats got their first hit in the fourth inning when Kurt Suzuki's fly ball to left field dropped between left fielder Rangel Ravelo and shortstop DeJong for a single.

Update II: The Cardinals scored twice in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. John Nogowski singled on a bad-hop grounder that got through the legs of Carter Kieboom at third to score Dylan Carlson, and Tommy Edman's single to right plated Nogowski. Erick Fedde was charged with both runs, though Ryne Harper allowed the Edman single.

Update III: The Nats have tied the score in the seventh on a two-run pinch-hit homer by Luis García and an RBI single by Brandon Snyder.

Update IV: Ben Braymer yielded three runs in the seventh and the Cardinals took a 6-3 lead.

Final update: Kyle McGowin pitched a scoreless eighth, allowing one hit and striking out three batters, but despite Jake Noll's one-out single, the Nats offense fizzled in the ninth. Final score: Cardinals 6, Nationals 3.