WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Nationals are adjusting their pitching strategy for the start of Spring Training games. When Grapefruit League action begins on Saturday, starters are slated to toss two innings and around 35 pitches in their first appearance.

“We’ve done it where they only went one inning,” manager Dave Martinez said on Thursday. “Reason being [for two innings] is that they’ve been so stretched out already, so they’re already built up to 45-50 pitches in their bullpens. We thought we’d do it this way, just let them go, face some hitters.”

Veteran Patrick Corbin will get the nod in the Spring Training opener against the Astros. He will be followed by Jackson Rutledge (ranked as the Nats’ No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline), Joan Adon, DJ Herz (No. 16), Jordan Weems, Richard Bleier (non-roster invite) and Robert Gsellman (NRI).

MacKenzie Gore is scheduled to start on Sunday at the Marlins, followed by Jake Irvin, Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey, Amos Willingham, Joe La Sorsa (NRI) and Luis Perdomo (NRI).

Josiah Gray and Zach Davies (NRI) are tabbed to take the mound on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, with the other pitchers for those games to be determined.

“Obviously, we want our starters to get 21 outs,” Martinez said. “That’s our main focus. But if they can’t, we have a multitude of guys that can get an out in one inning, come out the next inning, get three outs. … I love the options. I said this before: we can’t have enough arms in camp.”

Another pitcher the Nationals hope can help in Spring Training -- and potentially beyond -- is right-hander Derek Law, who agreed to a Minor League deal on Wednesday. He is expected in camp on Friday. Law went 4-6 with a 3.60 ERA in 54 games (three starts) for the Reds last season.

“He did really well last year with Cincinnati,” Martinez said. “He’s definitely another guy that can help us, so we’re excited about that. … He could be a four-out guy.”

Last season, the Nats maximized their starting pitching to only utilize six starters through August. They finished the year with eight, tied for fewest in the Major Leagues with the Blue Jays. Their relievers stepped up, too, amid shortened starts and threw the seventh-most innings among NL teams.

“I still think we need a guy that if something goes awry, [Law] can come and eat innings and give some of these other guys a break,” Martinez said. “It would be great if I could only use these guys for an inning apiece and keep them fresh, but you’ve got to think of the other side -- sometimes you’ve got to use them for an inning or two. Having a long guy would definitely help.”

Martinez lauded the eager approach of the Nationals' pitchers. While there is room for improvement from season to season, he would like to see their mentality stay the same.

“I really don’t want them to change, I really don’t,” he said of the bullpen. “Those guys are hungry. They wanted the ball. There were days where I thought, honestly, they should have had days off but they all wanted to pitch. I love those guys.”