Fister looking to begin throwing program

WASHINGTON -- Nationals pitcher Doug Fister hopes to begin a throwing program on Sunday as he works his way back from a right lat strain that put him on the disabled list to open the season. The right-hander said it's possible he could engage in some "light catch," but he first needs clearance from the club's medical staff.

"Things are feeling good," Fister said. "I've been doing the exercises that we've been going through, and I've been feeling better. So it's definitely going in the right direction.

"I think [Sunday's] a good day to start [throwing]. You find a lot of things out that way, so we'll see how it goes."

Fister, who dealt with elbow inflammation early in the spring, was pitching in a Minor League game on March 27 when he suffered the lat strain. The Nats put him on the 15-day DL two days later, although the move was retroactive to March 23.

Manager Matt Williams said that Fister did some "heavy exercise" on Saturday and should begin throwing within the next couple of days, if not on Sunday.

"The test is going to be throwing and extending," Williams said. "In a controlled environment, you can do a lot, but when he gets out there and throws a ball and wants to let it go a little bit, that's the determining factor probably. But so far, so good.