Soto makes 2020 debut tonight, Strasburg to throw sim game

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Juan Soto will return to the lineup tonight for the final game of the two-game set against the Mets. The skipper was assured that Soto was ready to go. He will play left field and bat in the cleanup spot against Mets starter Rick Porcello.

"I talked to him last night," Martinez said on the pregame Zoom video call. "He did everything yesterday and he felt good. He said he is ready. He took a bunch of swings yesterday. I know he ran, he did some outfield work. He said he feels like he can go out there. He could be good today, he might need a day tomorrow. We have a day off tomorrow. We'll keep an eye on him. He said he feels good."

I asked Martinez about how sure he felt that Soto is 100 percent. Martinez said they know each other well, and that they had an open conversation about when Soto might make his debut.

"I told him it's about being honest," Martinez said. "Last thing I want to do is get him back here and push him too quick. I told him, just be honest with me. We have a good relationship, so he's not afraid to tell me what he's thinking and what he's feeling. He said (yesterday) he probably needed another day. He wanted to push himself yesterday. He did that. After the game he came into the office and said he was good.

"I'm happy to see him back in the lineup. I know he's excited to be back in the lineup. I told him, 'Hey, we will take it one day at a time. Every day I'll come to you and talk to you and see how you are feeling, and we will go from there.' "

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is feeling good enough to pitch in a simulated game today. Martinez was going out to watch him following his pregame video conference.

"We will assess him," Martinez said. "We will talk to him. If he feels good, I can't see why he can get out there soon. If he feels up to it we will get him back in that rotation. Today will determine that."

Martinez did not want to confirm that Strasburg would start in five days as he recovers from the right wrist injury.

"We'd like to get him up there, 45, 50 pitches or so," he said. "We will see how it works out. I just want to make sure he goes out there, we got hitters in the box. He faces some hitters and we will see where he is at."

Eric Thames is back in the lineup tonight batting seventh. He has been recovering from back stiffness, and has not played since July 29 against the Blue Jays.

"He is going to play first base," Martinez said. "He feels good. He went through back stiffness, He worked out yesterday. He pushed himself a little bit. He said he felt good and he's ready to go today."