Scherzer improving, Cole will start Friday

HOUSTON - Manager Dusty Baker said right-hander A.J. Cole will start Friday for the Nationals in their series opener against the Mets.

The Mets series is four games in three days. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez will start Saturday's game. Right-hander Tanner Roark is slated to start one of the two games Sunday.

Right-hander Max Scherzer could be the starter for Sunday night if he throws a bullpen session without issues Friday in D.C.

"Bullpen soon. It's not all gone," Scherzer said of the neck pain during before tonight's game. "Moving from, say, where it was still grabbing on me to it's just stiff. That is usually a good progress point cause in that it usually goes away pretty quick."

"I'm not concerned. Now it's a matter of which day I am back."

How will he know he's ready to return?

"Where I can feel like I can throw at 100 percent," Scherzer said. "Have the incline of the mound not aggravate it. It's probably going to be weak, but I'm not going to damaging it by getting on the mound. I kind of know what that feeling feels like. Not there today. Could be there tomorrow."

He said through his career - and especially with this recent neck issue - he knows when he does something to injure his neck. The picture of Scherzer coming off the mound in Miami and motioning that he was done scared his manager, teammates and fans alike.

"Very well," Scherzer said of knowing his body's pain signals. "I know how to hurt it. Kind of know how not to hurt it. That's the best way to describe it."

It is looking more likely that right-hander Erick Fedde will get a start in one of Sunday's games if Scherzer is not ready to go.

"It depends on Max," Baker said. "I think he is supposed to throw some today. We'll see. If not then we got to go to plan T."

Baker was asked if Fedde steps in Sunday if Scherzer can't go.

"He's a possibility," Baker said. "Let's get there first."

Scherzer threw off of flat ground prior to today's game from about 70-90 feet and said his throws went well.

Baker said there is no new information on right-hander Ryan Madson and his sprained right index finger. Madson saw a hand and finger specialist in Arizona earlier in the week. Madson has been on the disabled list since Aug. 17, retroactive to Aug. 14.