Fister to start Thursday; updates on Strasburg, Zimmerman, Ramos, Barrett and Span

Manager Matt Williams confirmed that Doug Fister (right forearm tightness) will be activated off the disabled list tomorrow to make the start against the Rays in the series finale. Fister last pitched in the 8-3 loss at San Diego on May 14.

Stephen Strasburg (neck tightness) had a positive rehab start earlier today in Harrisburg at the Double-A level. With 80 pitches, the last nine in the bullpen, Williams said if Strasburg feels good this week, he could make his next start back in the majors. Getting Fister and Strasburg back is the goal.

"We'd like to get whole and we'd like to get healthy," Williams said. "We still have some guys that won't be here for awhile, but got to go with it. If Doug is healthy and ready, then he's got track record, we have confidence in him and the same goes for Stephen. If he's healthy and ready to pitch, then we want him on the mound every fifth day."

Williams confirmed that after Fister Thursday it will be Joe Ross, Max Scherzer and then Gio Gonzalez on their normal turns through the weekend against the Pirates.

Williams confirmed also that catcher Wilson Ramos is just having a day off because of the late flight into Dulles last night. Jose Lobaton gets the start. Aaron Barrett (right bicep strain) is not throwing yet, but "he's good" said Williams.

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman (left foot plantar fasciitis) reported he is feeling a little bit better as he recovers on the disabled list. But that doesn't mean that the process is enjoyable.

"You just kind of hang out and do nothing, so it's pretty brutal, actually," Zimmerman said. "Just got to rest it and let it heal and hopefully it will be sooner rather then later."

He said he did play through pain for some time, but did not play if he felt it would hurt the team. He has been on the 15 day DL since June 10.

"The good days were line 80, 85 percent and the bad days were obviously worse then that," Zimmerman said. "Like I said all the time, I wouldn't have played if I didn't think I could be effective. This is no excuse for how I played or anything like that, but it just got to the point where it wasn't good for me or the team."

Zimmerman said some of his major league brethren who have had the injury said resting it is the best way to get better. He says he has a partial tear.

"Usually once you do something to it or whether you tear all the way or tear it a little bit it kind of helps relieve the pain and some people years down the road will tear it completely," Zimmerman said. "Tearing in this point is kind of a good thing, I mean it's never good, but it relieves the pain and then you just have to wait for it to heal."

Center fielder Denard Span (back spasms) played for most of the road trip, but is not going to play tonight. He said the pain in his back has been "manageable".

"Some days better than others," Span said. "Last night, I think just getting off the plane travel, late flight, playing on the turf for a couple of days didn't help. Thought it was smart to give me a day and hopefully it'll feel better tomorrow."

The 4-4 road trip had highs and lows. Span said you have to mentally get past the losses, especially the ones where you feel like you could have played better. He was impressed how the team was able to shake off some of the particularly difficult setbacks.

"Whenever we've had bad moments, we've still been able to respond and bounce back," Span said. "The first games in Milwaukee were terrible and we bounced back and won the last two games. The first game in Tampa Bay (was) horrific and then we bounced back obviously yesterday. We've been battling. You got to give us a little bit of credit for staying and being tough and sticking with it."