VIERA, Fla. (AP) - Shairon Martis and Jordan Zimmermann have won the last two spots in the Washington Nationals' starting rotation.
Martis will start the year on the big league roster, but Zimmermann will start the year in the minors before his first start against Florida on April 19.The Nationals also placed outfielder Wily Mo Pena on waivers Saturday, and reassigned infielder Jose Castillo and outfielder Corey Patterson to minor league camp.
Catcher Javier Valentin also was reassigned, but opted out to become a free agent. Pitcher Collin Balester also was reassigned to Triple-A Syracuse.
The Nationals will only carry four starters to begin the year because of the spacing of three off days on April 5, 9 and 14.
"I wish we didn't have the days off that we have so we could have (Zimmermann) in the big leagues right away because he has shown us in this camp that he's one of our best pitchers, period," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "He showed he gives us a chance to win every five days, and we wish we could have him from Day 1.
Martis and Zimmermann join John Lannan, Scott Olsen and Daniel Cabrera in the rotation.
The spots opened when Odalis Perez refused to show up to camp and was released Feb. 23, and oft-injured Shawn Hill was released March 18.
Martis first start will come April 10 against Atlanta. He has been consistent during the spring, going 1-0 in five games with a 1.42 ERA. Martis allowed just three runs in 19 innings, striking out 11 while walking four.
The right-hander who turns 22 on Monday, also got a taste of the majors last year, when he was 1-3 with a 5.66 ERA in five games after being called up in September.
"I've been working for this, so I'm happy with the decision," Martis said. "I was thinking about the fifth spot. Now I got the fourth spot, so that's better."
Zimmermann, 22, was a second-round draft pick in 2007 and also has had a solid spring, going 1-1 with a 3.14 ERA in five games. He was unscored upon in his first four appearances of the spring, but allowed five runs against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 21.
Last year at Double-A Harrisburg, Zimmermann was 7-2 with a 3.21 ERA, and 103 strikeouts to just 39 walks.
"I didn't really know what to expect when I got drafted," Zimmermann said. "I thought maybe it would be three or four years and maybe I'd try to get close to being up to the big leagues, but when it's coming this fast, it's kind of overwhelming, and I just have to relax and work hard and just get ready for the 19th."
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