Updates on Fister, Strasburg, Solis, Zimmerman and facing Kris Bryant

Nationals manager Matt Williams updated how pitchers Doug Fister (right forearm tightness), Stephen Strasburg (neck tightness) and Sammy Solis (left shoulder inflammation) are going through the rehab process while on the disabled list. All three worked out at Nationals Park on Thursday. "Doug threw 40-ish pitches in the bullpen today, felt good," Williams said. "Threw all of them. Threw his changeup and his curveball, his cutter. Came out of it feeling really good. That heavier load, we'll have to see how he feels tomorrow. "Sammy did the same as well, about 35 pitches. Threw all of them. And felt good coming out, so that's the same process with him. "Strasburg played catch again today," Williams said. "(He) had no effect from yesterday's session and went back at it and did it again today, so that's a good sign." Right-hander A.J. Cole was called up from Triple-A Syracuse and will likely get the start for Saturday's 12:05 p.m. game against the Cubs. Williams said that Cole will be protection in the bullpen the next two nights in case they need someone to be the long man. "That hasn't been determined, but given the fact that we had to push (Taylor) Hill last night and (Taylor) Jordan pitched so much, that we do need a longer guy in the bullpen," Williams said of Cole's possible Saturday start call. "(We) sent Taylor (Jordan) back and got A.J. here to be the long guy for the next couple of days. We'll make a decision as we get closer." First baseman Ryan Zimmerman has done well defensively to begin the season at his new position, but has yet to hit his stride at the plate. Zimmerman is hitting .221 in 52 games and has grounded into a team-high nine double plays. Williams said part of Zimmerman's issue might be related to injury residue from last season. "We have to understand where he's been," Williams said. "Last year he missed the majority of the season and this game is not like riding a bike. So he's has to get back into the flow of it. He missed the latter part of the season with a hamstring (injury). The broken thumb, he was out couple of months, roughly. So those consistent at-bats weren't there for him. "I have all the confidence in the world, everybody in that room does in Zimm hitting in the five spot and being a run producer for us. But it's a process coming back." Williams also knocked down the possibility that Zimmerman is scuffling at the plate because he is learning a new spot on defense. "The new position has nothing to do with it, he's taken to that fine," Williams said. "I could probably count six or seven balls in the last few games that he's hit right on the money right at somebody. You can't steer it. As long as he's making consistent contact in that regard, then that's all we're worried about." Williams, a former third baseman, had glowing words for Cubs rookie Kris Bryant. The 2013 second overall selection is 6-foot-5, 215 lbs., and had three hits, two homers, two RBI and nine total bases in the three game series against the Nationals last week in Chicago. "For a large man his swing is exceptionally short, which is why he can generate power because he's got great leverage," Williams said. "He's got good knowledge of the strike zone. He hits the ball to all fields with power." Williams said it's not easy for bigger players like Bryant to excel defensively at the third base spot. "For me, the most impressive thing was the way he played third base," Williams said. "It's difficult to play that position when you're that big. Some guys have done it. Cal (Ripken, Jr.) did it, Troy Glaus (13 seasons, 827 games with Anaheim). He's big, if not bigger than Glaus. I know he's played some outfield since we've seen him, so that's an option for them as well. But offensively (his swing is) short and powerful. He can let the ball travel a long way before he decides to swing at it." The Nationals managed to win two out of three last week at Wrigley Field against the Cubs in a hard-fought series that produced only 11 total runs. The winner in each game never tallied more than three runs. Any advantage to facing a team you just played last week? "Well, it's familiar so we've gone through all the scouting and the advanced reports on them," Williams said. "It's difficult when you don't have a team that's familiar to you so you play them in May and you play them in August, you're relying on your reports to know who's hot and who's not. But it's fairly recent history for us so it gives us an idea of how we want to go about trying to beat them. Gives them the same (advantage) as well. "Being familiar is important. It's like, within your division you get to see them so often you have an idea of what you want to do."