Stephen Strasburg tosses two scoreless against Miami Marlins in 2019 Grapefruit League debut...

Strasburg Debuts: Davey Martinez told reporters this morning, as quoted by MASN’s Pete Kerzel, that the delay in the start of Stephen Strasburg’s Spring was part of the plan for the 30-year-old, nine-year veteran, who preferred getting in more work in behind the scenes in West Palm Beach before taking the mound in Grapefruit League action.

“He likes actually to face a couple live BPs and a couple extra bullpen sessions before he actually goes out in the game,” Martinez explained.

“For him, it’s about honing down his mechanics, but that’s it.”

Strasburg’s 2019 debut began with a 1-2-3 first inning, and he worked around a leadoff hit in the second, striking out two batters after surrendering a single.

According to reports from reporters on the scene in Florida, Strasburg threw 25-26 pitches total, and his fastball sat 92-94, though Spring Training radar guns are notoriously iffy, so it isn’t time to panic about the velocity... yet!

Homers/Runs: Yan Gomes gave his pitcher a 1-0 lead to work with when he took Marlins’ starter Clayton Richards deep for a solo shot in the first at bat of the second inning, 1-0.

Brian Dozier connected for the Nationals’ second home run of the game (and second hit) in the top of the fourth inning as the visitors went up 2-0. The home runs were each hitter’s 1st of the Spring.

Gomes was 2 for 2 on the day after he doubled off Hector Noesi later in the fourth inning, and he ended up going 2 for 3.

Victor Robles doubled to start the fourth inning, moved up on a two-out fielding error on an Anthony Rendon grounder, and scored on an RBI single by Howie Kendrick which made it 3-0 Nationals.

Michael A. Taylor improved to 1 for 3 on the day and 5 for 9 on the Spring with a solo home run to left field in the top of the sixth, and Victor Robles followed with a solo shot of his own in the next at bat, prompting a Nationals fan in attendance to ask, “Bryce who?” in a fairly loud voice that was clearly heard on the Miami broadcast of the game, 5-0, four HRs total.

Rosenthal takes over: Trevor Rosenthal hit 99 on the radar gun in Roger Dean Stadium in a scoreless inning of relief work after he took over on the mound for Strasburg in the bottom of the third inning.

Here’s what GM Mike Rizzo told 106.7 the FAN in D.C.’s Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier last week when he discussed the decision to sign the former St. Louis Cardinals’ closer after the right-hander held a showcase this past Fall as he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery.

“I’ve seen enough of Rosenthal over the years to know that I’d rather have him with us than against us,” Rizzo said.

“He’s been remarkable in his career, got hurt, Tommy John, rehabbed it really, really well, 18 months later we had one of our best scouts go out there and see him pitch, and he was really, really excited about him, and a guy who when I read that scout, he very rarely gets as excited as he was, so when we hung up the phone about three hours later we had Rosenthal signed.”

Barraclough’s Role?: Kyle Barraclough got the bottom of the fourth against his former team, and retired the side in order in a quick inning of work.

Davey Martinez talked earlier this week about what role he sees the former Marlin filling in the Nationals’ 2019 bullpen. He was asked if Barraclough could be a 6th/7th/8th inning guy, or maybe a set-up man, along with Rosenthal.

“Barraclough threw well yesterday,” Martinez said, “... and he could be that guy, he’s done it before for the Marlins, so he could be that guy that could pitch the eighth and ninth as well if we have to give one of those guys a day off.”

More Bullpen Action: Matt Grace worked around a leadoff single in a scoreless fifth inning, with help from his catcher, Yan Gomes, who caught Harold Ramirez trying to steal third an out after his hit started the frame.

Other Tanner: Tanner Rainey, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in return for Tanner Roark this winter, gave up four hits, a walk, and four earned runs in ²⁄₃ of an inning of work in his debut with the Nationals earlier this Spring, and he struggled again today, with a leadoff hit, walk, and two-run single getting the Marlins on the board in the bottom of the sixth, 5-2 DC.

Scott Copeland tossed a scoreless inning in the bottom of the seventh inning and came back out for a scoreless eighth.

Wander Suero got the ball in the ninth, with the score still 5-2, and the Marlins scored one to make it a two-run game in an error-filled inning.

A second run scored on the fourth error of the inning before Suero got out of trouble, 5-4 final.