Washington Nationals right-hander Doug Fister was scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League start on Friday against the Houston Astros due to elbow inflammation.
Manager Matt Williams said Fister would be pushed back a couple days until the inflammation subsides. He said he was not concerned and that the move was precautionary. An MRI taken Thursday revealed the inflammation.
Right-hander Tanner Roark will start in Fister’s place.
Fister threw 30 pitches over two innings in his spring debut last Sunday. Williams said he felt discomfort after the game.
The Nationals acquired Fister from the Detroit Tigers in the offseason. He went 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA in 32 starts for the Tigers last year.