Originally Posted by RotoWorld
Shawn Hill will join the Nationals' rotation to start the season, according to manager Manny Acta.
"It's just about being healthy [for him]," Acta said. "If he was healthy, he was a lock from the beginning." Hill has given up two runs in nine innings and he's no worse an option than the rest of the club's candidates, so it was a fine choice. He's still not an attractive option in NL-only leagues, however.
Jason Simontacchi may be on his way to earning a spot in the Nationals' rotation, according to manager Manny Acta.
"I would not pencil him yet. At the end of the day, it's going to take some important decisions when you are going to take someone off the [40-man] roster," Acta said. "He has made a case for himself." Even if he wins a spot this spring, Simontacchi is unlikely to be successful enough to hold on to the job.
Cristian Guzman, who made his first official appearance at shortstop yesterday, says he has no pain in the right shoulder that had kept him out of action until then.
Guzman had the day off today but will start again tomorrow. He should be okay to start the season.
Dmitri Young went 2-for-3 with a homer off Jason Schmidt Thursday in his first appearance in an 'A' game this spring.
That Young went the first two weeks playing in nothing except minor league games suggests he has little chance of making the Nationals out of spring training. However, he may have earned himself more time in 'A' games with his showing tonight. As things stand now, it appears that either Larry Broadway or Travis Lee will be the Nationals' starting first baseman until Nick Johnson returns.
Jason Bergmann gave up four runs in 2 1/3 innings Thursday in a loss to the Dodgers.
Bergmann had thrown five scoreless innings this spring, but this is a setback to his chances of winning a rotation spot. The Nationals will probably send him back to Triple-A rather than carry him as a reliever if he doesn't make the rotation.
Ryan Church went 0-for-3 on Thursday to drop his spring average to .143.
With his brother leaving for Iraq last weekend, Church has had things on his mind other than baseball. Still, from a fantasy perspective, it'd be nice to see him begin swinging the bat better soon. Manager Manny Acta has said he'd be his club's Opening Day left fielder, but that may not mean much if the slump lasts into the regular season.
Tim Redding yielded one run and two hits over three innings of relief Thursday against the Tigers.
Redding needed a positive outing to stay in the mix for one of the openings in the Washington rotation. Struggling with a new delivery, he entered with a 23.63 ERA in 2 2/3 innings.
Matt Chico helped his chances of making the Nationals by throwing four scoreless innings Thursday against the Tigers.
He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out three. Chico has given up four runs in 9 1/3 innings this spring. The 23-year-old would almost surely be on his way to Triple-A if he was a member of any other organization, but the Nationals might make him their fourth or fifth starter.