Strasburg likely to start Saturday, Treinen available today, plus Fister update

Nationals manager Matt Williams all but confirmed that right-hander Stephen Strasburg will return to the team and start Saturday night's matchup against the Rockies. Strasburg has been on the disabled list with an oblique issue since July 5. He has had two promising rehab starts and came out of each feeling back to full strength.

"We've got some options, certainly his day falls Saturday, but he'll go out and do his towel drills today and make sure," Williams said. "So we'll have a better idea after he's done with that. He felt OK coming out of the bullpen so we have to make sure that he's good today and then we can decide for sure. But his day certainly falls on Saturday."

Right-hander Doug Fister has focused on his command during bullpen sessions between starts. Fister has allowed four or more earned runs in four of his last six starts, including five runs in his last outing, a loss to Arizona on August 3. It is likely that Fister will be pushed back a day or two to activate Strasburg and allow him more time to fine-tune his approach.

"Well, he's been able to go out and pitch and not have any issues," Williams said. "He's frustrated by not being able to get the ball where he wants to get it to. So he's continuing to work on that. As of right now, he's taking his rest between starts on a normal process. Again, once we have an idea on Stras for sure then we'll be able to make adjustments with everybody else. But as of right now we haven't made that decision. That'll probably happen after today."

Right-hander Blake Treinen was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse after five scoreless outings. Right-hander Aaron Barrett was optioned to Syracuse. Williams said Treinen will help starter Joe Ross today if he needs help, and that he provides some long relief insurance after a brutal taxing of the bullpen Wednesday night.

"Length is something we need given some heavy bullpen activity last night," Williams said. "Blake's been throwing good. He's scoreless down there. Five appearances and is throwing the ball extremely well. It's an opportunity for us to get him back up here and let him go to work. ...

'The reports are that the ball is down, sinking down, and he hasn't been scored on. ... He's been multiple innings, and that was the plan sending him back down to get him multiple innings, and he's pitched really well so he's back here with opportunity."

Treinen has been using his four-seam fastball more to left-handers.

"It's not moving back. It gives him both sides of the plate," Williams said. "He can throw sinker and four-seamer. It opens up both sides of the plate for him."