Martinez details plan for first week of intrasquad games

The Nationals gave a glimpse of how they run mini sim games on Wednesday at Nats Park, the highlight being a chance for Max Scherzer to pitch for three innings with teammates taking at-bats against the three-time Cy Young Award winner.

Eric Thames, Trea Turner, Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor and others got at least three at-bats apiece to feel what it would be like against live pitching as they count down to a July 23 opening night against the Yankees.

"We're trying to get as many at-bats as possible, trying to treat it as if we've got a shortened spring training but try to get these guys at least 40 at-bats to get them going," Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Wednesday during a Zoom video call. "Today we got our main hitters three at-bats apiece. Then we let them play the field."

In Thursday's session, "we have nothing, just some live BPs. We've scheduled the catchers to hit in those live BPs so they can get their swings, 'cause obviously those guys are catching pitchers," Martinez said. "Then the next day we'll do the same thing: Get some of these guys two, three at-bats and switch them up.

"As we start getting further into spring training and pitchers throw more innings, we'll play more of an intrasquad-type deal. But as of right now I think it's imperative to get these guys comfortable against live pitching and getting them to see as many pitches as they can."

That means a chance to see Stephen Strasburg get three innings, most likely on Friday. Martinez wants to make sure that his entire team is ready to go for the shortened season, from his starters to his hitters. Because there are no do-overs once July 23 arrives, time is of the essence.

"Obviously, we want to get off to a really quick start," Martinez said. "Almost have to. With that being said, I tell the boys, 'Hey, we've just got to focus on getting ourselves ready right now. When July 23 comes, let's just go 1-0.' That's always been my message with these guys. I think that's how we got out of the 19-31 we put ourselves into last year. Just focus on the here and now, and just go 1-0 when that game arrives and go from there."

* A second group of players, made up entirely of pitchers and catchers, is working out at the Nationals' alternate training site, which will be the new home of the high Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals whenever minor league play resumes. The players getting their summer training at the ballpark about 55 miles south of D.C. include the Nats' top draft selections from three of the last four years, but also catcher Taylor Gushue, who was assigned to the 60-man player pool after the announcement that veteran Welington Castillo has opted out of playing this season.

"Unfortunately, because of our social distancing, we had to break guys up," Martinez said. "We had 58, 59 guys. So, we had to figure out what to do. We sent our younger, prospect guys down to Fredericksburg so they can get their work in.

"With that being said, those guys are going to come back. Most of those guys are all pitchers. They're going to come back after they get going and start throwing bullpens. Once we deem that they're ready to start facing hitters in a game, we'll start bringing them back and letting them face some of our hitters in games. It's important that these guys understand that we're in a different situation and we don't know what's going to happen in the future. So, they've got to be ready to help us now. We want to see them. We want to put eyes on them. We're going to get reports on these guys daily and see how they're doing, and we'll go from there."

Here is the roster for Fredericksburg's alternate site:

Pitchers (15)

RHP Joan Adon
RHP Dakota Bacus
RHP Cade Cavalli
RHP Tyler Eppler
RHP Paulo Espino
RHP Steven Fuentes
RHP Jake Irvin
RHP Kyle McGowin
RHP Jackson Rutledge
RHP Austen Williams

LHP Ben Braymer
LHP Tim Cate
LHP Matt Cronin
LHP Seth Romero
LHP Nick Wells

Catchers (2)

Taylor Gushue
Jackson Reetz