Clippard skips 'pen session with minor back soreness

By Bill Ladson

February 21, 2014

VIERA, Fla. -- Nationals right-hander Tyler Clippard didn't throw in the bullpen on Friday because of tightness in his back. The injury is not considered serious, and Clippard hopes to throw off the mound on Saturday.

"It's early in spring. They don't want me to rush it," Clippard said. "They are trying to take care of me, I guess. I'm champing at the bit. I'll be out there tomorrow. I'm not going to lose anything, so no worries."

Clippard, 29, has been a workhorse for the Nationals, pitching 383 1/3 innings in the last five years, and he usually starts Spring Training slow.

"I know that's probably going to continue," Clippard said. "I don't want to throw 16 innings in Spring Training for no reason. It's one of those things that I know I'm going to be used a lot during the season, so I want to take it easy [during Spring Training] and be ready for Opening Day."

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the time. He can be found on Twitter @WashingNats.