WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Josh Rogers is excited to pick up the momentum he left off with at the end of the 2021 season. So the energetic right-hander was eager when he got the nod for the Nationals’ Spring Training opener Friday night against the Marlins at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

“I put in a lot of work this offseason to really come in prepared and ready to roll,” Rogers, who began throwing bullpens Jan. 7, said following the Nats’ 8-3 loss.

Rogers gave Washington a six-game glimpse into his potential as a member of the starting rotation last season, going 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA over 35 2/3 innings. It was a comeback performance after a long recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2019, followed by a release from the Orioles in June.

But he felt settled with the Nationals, and because of that, he was able to thrive in a small sample that has him in contention for a spot in the 2022 starting rotation.

“That was the biggest thing, was just being comfortable,” Rogers said. “I don’t think I’ve been comfortable in a big league setting up until this point and until last year. Being healthy is the biggest thing for me, and dealing with injuries in the past, but to really just be comfortable in the locker room with the staff and from the front office all the way down to the bat boys and everything, it’s a great environment here and it’s awesome. I love it. I love it here.”

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Between injuries and roster openings, there are opportunities to be claimed as a starter. Patrick Corbin and Josiah Gray are ready to go for the start of the season, but Joe Ross and Stephen Strasburg still are sidelined. Rogers will compete with fellow 2021 starters Erick Fedde and Paolo Espino, as well as Aníbal Sánchez and Aaron Sanchez.

“I’m taking it day by day,” Rogers said. “It is what it is. All 50 guys here want to make the team. I’m just focused on my process and what I’ve done in this offseason leading up to this to prepare me for 162 [games] and be ready to take the ball every fifth day. I feel confident and ready to do that. But ultimately, I’ve got to pitch good and pitch better. Hopefully I’ll continue to do that and get more opportunities and show what I can do.”

Manager Dave Martinez was pleased with Rogers performance Friday. He pitched two innings, allowing two hits and one run (a home run to Lorenzo Quintana) while recording a pair of strikeouts. A key for Rogers, Martinez said, is getting ahead of hitters.

“He brings energy every time he’s on the mound,” Martinez said. “Even in the days between the time he pitches, he’s always upbeat, he’s always pulling for his teammates, he’s working hard and just trying to get better. I thought he threw the ball well for his first outing.”

After gearing up for months, Rogers is ready to take what he learned from the first outing and apply it toward his quest for a starting job.

“Not giving guys free bases is huge for me, and today that’s one check of the box I can say I didn’t give up any free bases,” he said. “They earned it.”