Notes: Stras builds strength; Zim scorching

The last time Opening Day was a week away, Stephen Strasburg knew he wouldn't be taking the mound or even watching from the dugout as his teammates took the field. Granted, the 2020 season was anything but normal, but this wasn't anything new for the right-hander -- he was hurt.

Strasburg didn't make his season debut until Aug. 9 due to a nerve issue in his right hand, and following two difficult outings over which he surrendered six runs over five innings, his season was over. The nerve issues persisted and he was diagnosed with carpel tunnel neuritis.

But this year is different ... sort of.

Strasburg is trying to get himself ready to be in the Nationals' Opening Day rotation after suffering a calf injury that sounded worse than it was. He took another step in that direction Wednesday night, when he pitched four innings in Washington's 11-8 Grapefruit League loss to the Astros in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The goal was to get Strasburg to 80 pitches or so as he builds his arm back up to be ready for the regular season. He threw 83 and wasn't sharp, being charged with four runs while walking five and striking out one. Nevertheless, the calf felt fine and the veteran right-hander is looking at the big picture. He did not say that he'd definitely be ready on Opening Day.

"The biggest thing is that I got my pitches in and wasn't very efficient with it, but the biggest goal is to build up, be able to go out there and throw 100-plus pitches from the start," Strasburg said. "... I'm doing everything in between [starts] to be ready for the season. ... You've gotta take it one month at a time, not one start at a time, and just continue to build and hopefully peak at the right time when the games really matter in the second half."

Strasburg felt he was off mechanically in Wednesday's outing, saying his head was flying open during his delivery, something he has dealt with in the past. He said he would address the mechanical issues in a bullpen session prior to his next start, which will be his final tune-up before the regular season begins.

Strasburg also revealed more details regarding his calf injury, saying he ruptured the plantaris tendon, which sounds alarming. But luckily for the Nats, it was not in this case.

"I guess you don't really need it," Strasburg said. "It was just one of those lucky things where it went away and wasn't a big issue. The doctor was pretty adamant about it, saying you don't really need it."

With all that he's been through with injuries throughout his career, Strasburg is ready for it to be different in '21. That starts next week with Opening Day, when the 2019 World Series MVP Award winner is hoping he'll be ready to go.

"I'm just excited to maybe get in the dugout here with the guys and not just be watching it on TV all the time," he said.

Zimmerman red hot at the plate

Veteran first baseman Ryan Zimmerman launched a pair of homers in Wednesday's loss, bringing his Spring Training total up to five in just 19 at-bats. The 36-year-old opted out of last year's COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season and had two mediocre seasons at the plate as a backup from 2018-19. In '17, he was an All-Star, bouncing back from a poor season at the plate by belting 36 homers for Washington.

The Nationals brought Zimmerman back on a one-year deal in January with the hope he could be a backup for Josh Bell, whom they acquired from the Pirates (Bell also has five homers on the spring after smashing one Wednesday). Bell hits right-handed pitching much better than he does lefties, and Zimmerman could play a platoon role. So far, it's looking great for him.

"If I could just have 11 months off between every year, I’d be great every time I’m coming in for a new year," Zimmerman quipped upon being signed.

Whatever the cause for the rejuvenation at the plate, the Nats will certainly take it.