Williams on naming a No. 1 starter, Gwynn and more (with photo and videos)

VIERA, Fla. - Since Max Scherzer joined the star-studded Nationals rotation, many have argued with friends over adult beverages, or with sports talk show hosts, as to which pitcher should start on opening day. Some have even skipped the looming 162-game schedule and jumped to Game 1 of the National League Division Series in October.

October? Can we get some sun first?

"I think there's worse problems to have in the world than deciding who's going to pitch Game 1," Scherzer told ESPN on Sunday.

But this hype machine is alive and well for the Nationals and it doesn't figure to lose steam with the relentless powers these pitchers present.

"That's why I sit on my couch and I'm sitting there and I'm thinking to myself, 'How can we lose?' " said Bryce Harper to ESPN's John Kruk. "I mean, we got five guys that are unbelievable, they're all number ones. You flip a coin and you pick your poison."

That does seem to be a good way to put it. Though I don't think that's how manager Matt Williams reached his decision to have Scherzer start Thursday's Grapefruit League opener against the Mets at Space Coast Stadium. And, as Williams cautioned, it doesn't mean that Scherzer will be back on the hill for opening day in 34 days at Nats Park.

Even if he is, Harper's coin flip expression isn't that far off base. Each of these Nationals starters plan to start over 30 games each barring injury. Obviously, in a postseason series it's far important to have the pitcher on the mound that gives your team the best chance to win a game one, but it in the regular season is it that significant?

"I would liken it to the leadoff hitter," Williams said. "Once you get past the first inning, you have multiple leadoff hitters during the game. So it's important for those guys to get on base, too. You get past the first week and you've got an off-day, and it's out the window, too.

"Depending on what you're doing, depending on what they're doing, those matchups can be not necessarily one on one. It could be one against five, depending on if they have an off-day and you don't. All of our guys have the ability to go out there and compete and win games on any given day. That's what we feel good about. So in that regard, they would all have that ability."

Tony Gwynn Jr. is scheduled to arrive in Viera tonight after signing a minor league contract on Monday with an invite to spring training. The 32-year-old outfielder hit just .152 in 127 plate appearances with the Phillies last season. But he does bring a left-handed bat to spring training which might be in his favor in this competition to earn a roster spot if he can perform well over the next four weeks.

Stephen Strasburg knows Gwynn well. The hard-throwing Nats pitcher played for Gwynn father at San Diego State. Strasburg last saw him in mid-February when they honored the late Tony Gwynn before a game at their alma mater.

"He's an awesome guy," Strasburg said of Tony Gwynn Jr. "I mean, he's just like his dad, always laughing and always having fun, and he's very dedicated to the craft and wants to do everything and be as good of a teammate as he can."

Williams played two decades against Gwynn's Hall of Fame father. He explained why they decided to bring in the eight-year veteran to camp.

"He's got big league experience," Williams said. "He can play multiple outfield positions. He's got speed. He's come off the bench before, as well as started games. So he knows all of it. And that experience helps us. He certainly was available and expressed interest in playing for us and coming to spring training. So we're glad to have him."

Gwynn has a .261 career batting average with 14 RBIs as a pinch hitter.

Some highlights from today's practice:

* Yunel Escobar continues to spend time fielding grounders and making the turn and throw to second base in double play situations. Dan Uggla was providing advice to Escobar throughout the session on making the throw, which is opposite to what Escobar is used to having from playing shortstop. Escobar again took extra fielding work at second base after the workout. Today, he practiced with highly regarded infield prospect Wilmer Difo among others. (See video below.)

* Fans lined the fences around the field where Harper, Denard Span and Nate McLouth took batting practice. They were provided an added bonus since Williams was tossing BP for the trio. Span looked solid, driving balls to all parts of the field with Williams calling out "Triple" on a few cracks of the bat.

Williams threw a changeup to Harper that broke his bat on the first pitch. He then watched ball after ball splash into the pond well beyond the right field fence. After one round of BP, Williams hollered from the mound to the crowd watching, "How 'bout that display folks?" Loud cheers followed until Williams sarcastically yelled, "I meant the pitching." Lots of laughs. (Watch video of Harper below.)

* We have just one more day of practice before an actual live game on Thursday here in Viera. Outfielders McLouth, Jayson Werth and Brian Goodwin are the only Nationals players Williams says aren't ready to participate in an exhibition game, as they continue to rehab from surgeries.

Here are videos and a photo from today's workout.:

Reliever Casey Janssen warms up.