Sánchez sharp, Strickland struggles, Stevenson succeeds

JUPITER, Fla. - Some thoughts, observations and quotes from the Nationals' 7-3 loss tonight to the Marlins ...

* Aníbal Sánchez was sharp. Really sharp.

The veteran right-hander tossed four innings of scoreless ball. He allowed only one hit (a single up the middle). He did not walk a batter. He struck out three. He threw only 50 pitches.

Sánchez did this despite not necessarily feeling 100 percent comfortable on the mound.

"I think early in the game, I just tried to put the pitch in the corners," he said. "What wasn't working really good, I think the mound's too wet. So I'm slipping a little bit. But in the fourth inning, I think I felt really strong and with better command."

Sánchez indeed looked his best as his outing progressed. He retired the last five batters he faced, three via strikeout. And one of those came on a 91 mph fastball, the only pitch he threw tonight that reached the 90s.

All those fastballs in the 80s were by design, Sánchez insisted.

"I just want to attack the strike zone. I don't want to overthrow," he said. "It's not something I need right now, probably. As soon as the body is warm, I just wanted to test a little bit what I can do with my fast one and just tried to challenge a little bit with the fastball."

* Hunter Strickland was not sharp. Again.

The reliever entered to pitch the bottom of the fifth and proceeded to give up hits to three of the first four batters he faced. Included in there was a towering, two-run homer by Chad Wallach on a fastball down the pipe.

It's not fair to single out a reliever over one poor spring outing, but this has become a recurring pattern for Strickland, who has now given up five runs (four earned) in four Grapefruit League innings.

And the longball continues to be the right-hander's Achilles' heel. Strickland has now pitched a total of 27 innings since joining the Nationals last summer (regular season, postseason and spring training combined). He has given up 10 homers, a staggeringly high number for that workload.

"Pitchers have got to understand that just because you're throwing 96-97 (mph), you've still got to locate your fastball," manager Davey Martinez said. "And that's something he's got to hone in on. We've got to get him to understand that he has to make pitches. He can't just throw the ball 97 mph. He's got to understand that he's got to throw a 97 mph fastball with purpose. And he's really trying to do that."

This is probably not going to happen, but it's worth noting that Sunday marks the deadline for clubs to release players with non-guaranteed contracts and only be responsible for one-sixth of their salary. Strickland, who signed over the winter for $1.3 million, probably isn't in danger of losing his job right now. But if the front office is somehow convinced he's not going to turn things around, it does have the ability to make that cost-saving move this weekend.

* Andrew Stevenson continues to quietly do his job and make the front office consider him for a spot on the 26-man roster.

The outfielder drew another walk tonight, and in doing so reached base for the 11th time in 25 plate appearances this spring. This on the heels of his impressive 2019, when he posted a .486 on-base percentage (albeit in only 37 big league plate appearances).

Given all the veterans assured of spots on the Nationals bench, and the presence of Michael A. Taylor as the club's fourth outfielder, it's going to be hard for Stevenson to force his way onto the roster. But team officials nonetheless are impressed by his performance and insist they're considering him to come north with them.

"I love Stevie," Martinez said. "He plays the game the right way. He gives you that tough at-bat. I got him playing center field a little bit more. He's worked on his speed this winter. He wanted to get quicker on his feet. He worked on his first steps (in the outfield). He looks great right now. And he's swinging the bat really well. He can hit some fastballs, I can tell you that, no matter who's throwing them. We'll see what happens. With this 26th man, we've got tons of decisions to make."