Nationals finalize 25-man roster for opening day

Though they won't play until Friday, the Nationals were nonetheless required to submit their opening day roster to Major League Baseball this morning along with the sport's 29 other clubs.

The 25-man roster contains no surprises. The transactions the Nationals made Sunday night upon leaving West Palm Beach already revealed their intentions.

The Nationals will carry an eight-man bullpen to open the season, with only four players on their bench. That arrangement could change in relatively short order, especially once second baseman Daniel Murphy is ready to make his return from October right knee surgery. But for now, this is how they'll be constructed.

The expanded bullpen features four right-handers (Ryan Madson, Brandon Kintzler, Shawn Kelley, Trevor Gott) and four left-handers (Sean Doolittle, Sammy Solís, Enny Romero, Matt Grace). Grace will serve as the de facto long reliever for now.

Assuming Howie Kendrick starts at second base in Murphy's absence, the bench will include No. 2 catcher Miguel Montero, backup first baseman/left fielder Matt Adams, backup infielder Wilmer Difo and backup outfielder Brian Goodwin.

A.J. Cole opens the season as the No. 5 starter, slotting in behind the well-established quartet of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark. With recent veteran signing Jeremy Hellickson working to build up his arm in Florida over the next week or two, Cole could be on a short leash (though if he loses his spot in the rotation, he would shift to the bullpen because he's out of minor league options).

We still don't know how new manager Davey Martinez will arrange his opening day batting order, but the eight regulars - again, assuming Kendrick is at second base over Difo - are set. Ryan Zimmerman, Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon round out the infield. Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor and Bryce Harper make up the outfield. Matt Wieters returns at the No. 1 catcher.

The official opening day roster:

CATCHERS (2): Matt Wieters, Miguel Montero

INFIELDERS (6): Ryan Zimmerman, Howie Kendrick, Trea Turner, Anthony Rendon, Matt Adams, Wilmer Difo

OUTFIELDERS (4): Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor, Bryce Harper, Brian Goodwin

STARTING PITCHERS (5): Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Tanner Roark, A.J. Cole

RELIEF PITCHERS (8): Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson, Brandon Kintzler, Shawn Kelley, Trevor Gott, Sammy Solís, Enny Romero, Matt Grace

10-DAY DL (2): Joaquin Benoit, Daniel Murphy

60-DAY DL (2): Koda Glover, Joe Ross