Fister has no pain after throwing from 60 feet

WASHINGTON -- Nationals right-hander Doug Fister played catch from 60 feet without any problems on Sunday, according to pitching coach Steve McCatty.

Fister has been on the 15-day disabled list since the start of the season because of a right lat strain, and he missed most of Spring Training because of elbow inflammation.

"He played catch at 60 feet today and he threw the ball fine. No pain -- he didn't feel anything in the back or in the elbow, so that's good," McCatty said. "I'm sure he's encouraged, but he's probably going wacko. He doesn't like sitting here and doing this. He understands and knows there's a process to doing it."

Fister is expected to miss a month of action, so he is not expected to be back on a Major League mound until sometime in May.