MILWAUKEE — With the bullpen struggling under an increased workload, the Washington Nationals got some good news over the weekend as starting right-handers Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister made progress on their rehabs and could be back with the team in the next few weeks.
Fister threw six shutout innings Friday night for Double-A Harrisburg then returned to Washington to be evaluated. He will throw a full bullpen session this week and if all goes well, could be back in the rotation when his turn next comes up.
“The numbers were good, 70 pitches through six innings,” Nationals manager Matt Williams said. “He was efficient and threw all of his pitches for strikes. We’ll get him through a bullpen and see where he’s at.”
Strasburg is a little further from returning, but felt good after throwing a 60-pitch simulated game Friday. He, too, will go through a bullpen session this week and barring any setbacks, would then begin a rehab assignment.
“He felt good coming out of it,” Williams said. “Felt good (after), no issues. So we’ll get him into his bullpen and make a decision what the next step is. But he came out of it good. Which is a good sign.”