:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45887340/52264887.0.jpg)
In his first Grapefruit League start, against the New York Yankees last weekend, Doug Fister gave up a hit and a walk in two scoreless innings.
Washington's 31-year-old right-hander, while acknowledging that it was just his first start of the Spring, said there were things he needed to work on as he progressed towards the beginning of the regular season.
"'Not a bad outing to look at overall,'" Fister told reporters, including MASN's Chris Johnson. "'Still fighting myself trying to stay back and get on top of the ball to throw my sinker with the command I want.'"
That walk though...
"'Obviously, I walked a guy,'" Fister continued. "'That's got to diminish completely. I feel OK where I'm at right now. I still have a lot of time to build upon.'"
In his first season in Washington D.C. following the 3-for-1 trade that brought him to the Nats from the Detroit Tigers last winter, Fister was (16-6) with a 2.41 ERA, a 3.93 FIP, 24 walks (1.32 BB/9) and 98 Ks (5.38 K/9) in 25 starts and 164 IP over which he was worth +1.3 fWAR. He continues his preparation for the 2015 campaign this afternoon when he takes the mound in Viera, Florida's Space Coast Stadium as the Nationals take on the Houston Astros.
Here's the Nationals' lineup for today's 1:05 PM EDT start:
#Nats lineup vs. #Astros: Gwynn CF, Desmond SS, Harper RF, Zimmerman 1B, Ramos C, Uggla 2B, Ka'aihue LF, Frandsen 3B, Carp DH, Fister P
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 13, 2015
It's radio only this afternoon, with the Astros' feed available by MLB>com's GameDay audio, which the Nationals were kind enough to link to in the last few minutes:
.@DougFister58 and the #Nats take on the #Astros at 1:05 pm. Listen LIVE here: http://t.co/17AyNe56k0
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 13, 2015
Who's listening to the Nationals?