Martinez says Doolittle and Zimmerman back Sunday (Nats win 7-0)

Nationals manager Davey Martinez confirmed, barring any late setbacks, both closer Sean Doolittle and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman will return to the active roster on Sunday.

Doolittle threw 13 pitches in a rehab appearance Friday night in Frederick, Md., with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. He faced three batters and did not allow a hit, a run or a walk, inducing a groundout and two flyouts.

"Sean was good," Martinez said. "He was pleased and we were pleased. He's going to work out today, throw today, see how he feels tomorrow. If everything goes well, he will be activated tomorrow."

Martinez said Doolittle's velocity was down but he does not think that will be an issue when the closer returns.

"It was down but I think once you play under the big lights I think his velocity will go up," Martinez believes. "The good thing is we watched his mechanics last night, today. Everything seemed really good. He's underneath himself. Now he just has to build arm strength back up and that's coming. He's doing well. Physically, mentally, he's well."

Zimmerman completed his rehab assignment earlier in the week. The first baseman went through his normal batting practice routine today.

"Zim's ready to go. He will be back tomorrow, so that will be nice," Martinez confirmed.

That led to the question many have wondered about Zimmerman: When you have Matt Adams, Howie Kendrick and even Asdrúbal Cabrera hitting well, will Zimmerman go back to being the everyday first baseman Sunday or will there be a platoon system setup? Martinez said there is not quick answer because those other players are hitting well but Zimmerman's defense is a step better. Plus, if the 34-year-old gets hot at the plate, Martinez will keep him in the lineup.

"I talked to him a little bit," Martinez said of his discussions with Zimmerman. "He will play some against the lefties, come off the bench. We got some guys that are playing pretty well. It's a good problem to have but we can rotate guys in and out.

"Obviously, his defense is really, really good. So, I told him even days you don't play and you pinch-hit I want you to play defense as well, just be prepared. He's excited to come back in any capacity. Zim's a true professional. If he gets going that'd be a huge bat for us. It really will. I'm not going to say that if he starts swinging the bat like Zim can, he'll play. He's going to get his playing time, (I) just hope that he gets back and he can finish out the season healthy."

* With Sunday being Sept. 1 and Major League Baseball's roster expansion opportunity, Martinez has put together a wish list of three or four players he hopes to activate to help fortify the roster as the Nats continue their quest for the postseason.

"We got guys coming," Martinez said. "I know we got (minor league) playoffs going on too, all kinds of things going on. Right now, we were in there trying to figure things out. My focus is on today, getting (Stephen) Strasburg to go about seven innings or so and score about eight or nine runs and go from there."

Many have questioned whether or not veteran relievers Greg Holland and Aaron Barrett, plus outfielders Michael A. Taylor and Andrew Stevenson, or even shortstop Carter Kieboom will be on the short list of possible call-ups. Sunday morning the Nats are expected to reveal those additions.

* Martinez has decided to keep right fielder Adam Eaton out of the lineup for the second straight night. Eaton was hit by a pitch Wednesday night in the win over the Orioles. He pinch-hit Friday night, but had to leave the game because the knee still did not feel 100 percent.

"He's better today," Martinez said. "It's day to day. I watched him yesterday run a little bit, jog to second base, he didn't look right. Obviously, we had to pinch-run. But he's better today so he'll be available off the bench again. He ran a little bit earlier, was OK. He's going to get more treatment and run throughout the game and see how he feels."

Update: Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto crushed back-to-back solo homers off of Marlins starter Pablo López in the bottom of the first. The twin blasts marked the 30th homers for each of them this season, and lifted the Nats to a 2-0 lead. Strasburg connected with an RBI single to left field in the second inning to boost the lead to 3-0.

Strasburg has five strikeouts in the first three innings. He has allowed two hits but no runs.

Mid-third, the Nats lead the Marlins 3-0.

Update II: Soto lined a run-scoring double down the right field line and Kurt Suzuki launched a two-run shot as the Nats poured it on in the third. Suzuki has 15 homers on the season.

After three innings, the Nats lead the Marlins 6-0.

Update III: Strasburg has 10 strikeouts through six innings. He now has 10 or more strikeouts in 46 games in his career, six times this season. Rendon and Soto are the second pair of Nats to hit 30 or more homers in a season. Zimmerman (33) and Adam Dunn (38) pulled off the same feat in 2009.

Update IV: Strasburg has a tied a season-high of 14 strikeouts through eight innings. Rendon drove his second homer of the game over the left field wall in the bottom of the eighth.

Strasburg ended up allowing no runs on two hits with no walks in 107 pitches, 81 for strikes. he strikeouts and innings pitched match season-high totals.

After eight, the Nats lead 7-0.

Update V: Strasburg earns 16th win of season which is a new career-high. Tanner Rainey gets three outs on a walk and three strikeouts in the ninth.

Final score: the Nats 7, the Marlins 0.