Nationals manager Matt Williams has not decided on who his Opening Day starter will be, noting that all five of his pitchers -- Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez -- deserve a chance, per MLB.com.
"A lot goes into it," Williams said. "There's matchups. There is health in the spring. If anybody is a little bit cranky, we want to make sure we back off in that regard. There are three off-days leading up to the regular season. So if we have a hiccup here or there with anybody -- we saw that with Doug last year. … All those things go into it. Track record goes into, knowledge of the [the opponents].
"How they line up is irrelevant when you get past the first [turn through the] rotation anyway," Williams said. "But it's an honor for the guy that's gets chosen [for the Opening Day] start. Everybody wants to get off on the right foot in your first game -- great momentum and all those wonderful things. But if you don't win that first game, it doesn't mean you are dead. You go to the next one."