PHOENIX -- The Nationals traveled to Arizona to begin a three-game series this weekend, and on Friday, they were met by three new players in the visiting clubhouse at Chase Field -- a trio of relievers who manager Dave Martinez now has at his disposal late in games.

Hunter Strickland, Roenis Elias and Daniel Hudson were all traded to Washington at the Trade Deadline on Wednesday and joined their new team ahead of Friday’s game. Strickland and Elias were dealt by Seattle, while Hudson came over from Toronto. All three relievers were active for the series opener.

“They’ve been great, awesome, met all three of them and talked to them for a little bit,” Martinez said before Friday’s game. “They’re excited to be here, we’re excited to have them. I told them, ‘Hey, you’re going to be a big part of the bullpen, so just be ready.’”

Strickland may have been the most surprising of the three acquisitions, as he had pitched in only four games this season with Seattle. Strickland last pitched for the Mariners on Sunday, his first appearance after missing four months with a strained right lat muscle, and made his Nats debut in Friday's 3-0 win over the D-backs. He pitched one perfect inning with two strikeouts as a bridge to closer Sean Doolittle.

The move sets up a rematch between Strickland and former Nationals star Bryce Harper when the Phillies visit Washington from Sept. 23-26. Strickland and Harper had an incident in 2017, when Strickland, then a member of the Giants, threw a pitch at Harper, who charged the mound, leading to a benches-clearing fracas.

However, Strickland said that incident is “100 percent in the past.”

“My job’s to get him out, that’s all it is, especially if at that time we’re making a playoff push,” Strickland said. “We learn from things that we do, that’s how we stick around in the game, you just keep competing.”

While Strickland hasn’t pitched much in the big leagues this year, Elias, who worked two-thirds of an inning Friday, and Hudson were both having strong seasons in the American League. Elias posted a 3.64 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP in 44 games for the Mariners, while Hudson had a 3.00 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP in 45 games for the Blue Jays.

The Nationals improved their bullpen depth with these acquisitions and will now need to find the best combination to get from their starters to Doolittle in games.

“I’m just here to help out any way I can, whether that’s the eighth inning or not,” Elias said through an interpreter. “I’m here to hopefully help this team get to the playoffs.”

Strickland, Elias and Hudson all expressed excitement to be on a team in the postseason race after playing the first half of the year for sub-.500 teams. The Nationals entered Friday’s game tied with the Phillies for the second National League Wild Card spot.

“It’s what we play for, we play to win,” Hudson said. “Everybody wants to get into October and win a World Series. Nobody likes to lose, at least nobody that I’ve ever met in this game likes to go out there and lose. To get into a locker room with these guys and go into battle with them every night is going to be a lot of fun.”

Scherzer update

Right-hander Max Scherzer (mild upper back strain) threw 25 pitches from 70 feet on Friday at Chase Field, and Martinez said the ace reported no issues. However, there will still be several steps before Scherzer throws off a mound.

“It’s a strengthening thing with him now to get him back,” Martinez said. “We’re going to make sure he’s 100 percent. When he comes back, we want him back. We don’t want this to be a lingering issue.”

Corbin prepares to face former team

Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin spent the first six seasons of his big league career with the D-backs. On Sunday, he’ll pitch against them for the first time.

Corbin is scheduled to start the series finale at Chase Field. He played for Arizona from 2012-18, posting a 3.91 ERA in 172 games (154 starts). So, he’ll be familiar with some of the hitters in the D-backs’ lineup.

“You’re hoping it helps,” Corbin said. “They know me pretty well, too. They’ve seen me my whole career that I’ve been here. You know their hitters, and you just try to go out there and execute pitches, really. Once you’re between the lines, you just want to compete. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to face them.”

Roster move

After the Nationals acquired Strickland, Elias and Hudson, they designated relievers Michael Blazek and Javy Guerra for assignment -- but they still needed to clear one more roster spot.

On Friday, the Nats made that move, designating left-hander Tony Sipp for assignment. Sipp had a 4.71 ERA in 36 relief appearances for Washington this season.

When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster, and 25-man roster if he was on that as well. Within seven days of the transaction (it was previously 10 days), the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.