Zimmermann all business in first start against his former team

VIERA, Fla. - It was strictly by the luck of the draw that ex-Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann's first start of the Grapefruit League campaign with his new squad came against his former team in the familiar surroundings of Space Coast Stadium.

Zimmerman's outing included both the kind of pitch efficiency familiar to Nats fans - he needed only 26 pitches to maneuver through two innings and came out for the third, something unusual in spring training debuts - and an opportunity for the right-hander to engage in some playful banter with his former teammates.

"It was different, obviously," Zimmermann said after allowing a run on one hit with two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. "I went out there and attacked it like I planned on doing along. You know some of these guys' tendencies and obviously they switch it up on me - like J-Dub (Jayson Werth), I threw him a first-pitch heater, and usually he takes a first pitch, and I figured he might be swinging. I threw it for a ball and then I threw the slider and he's yelling at me rounding first after he popped it up. It was fun."

Werth caught up with Zimmermann in the weight room after his outing, and some of the conversation probably focused on the pitch sequence Werth faced before popping up to lead off the second. Nats pitchers Aaron Barrett, Tanner Roark and Gio Gonzalez visited briefly with Zimmermann before the game, but otherwise Zimmermann's first start in a Tigers uniform was all business.

Except for the five-year, $110 million free agent deal Zimmermann signed in the offseason and the fact that he was facing the team that drafted and developed him.

"My stuff was pretty good today," Zimmermann said. "I threw all four pitches and worked on the changeup, which has come a long way the last couple of weeks."

Pitching against the Nationals in spring training was likely more relaxed for Zimmermann than had the first encounter been in a regular season game. With the Nationals playing the American League Central in interleague action this season, that could still happen when the Tigers visit Washington from May 9-11.

"It's probably going to be weird if I face them in D.C. this year, too," he said. " But it's definitely fun getting out there and attacking these guys after all the smack talk they said (about) when I move on they're going to take me deep and all that. It was a good outing."

Stephen Strasburg, who started for the Nats, acknowledged that it was different seeing Zimmermann in a new uniform.

"It was strange. But it was good seeing him," Strasburg said. "I saw him in the weight room before the game and stuff. He's doing well. He likes it over there. So I'm happy for him."

When he strolled off the mound after completing his 37-pitch effort, Zimmermann was greeted by a warm ovation from the Space Coast Stadium crowd, which included a fair amount of Tigers fans.

"It was nice. I figured something like that might take place," Zimmermann said. "Like I said all along, the fans are great. They showed it again today."