--RHP Shawn Hill was bumped from his scheduled start March 5 due to tightness in his right forearm. However, an examination the next day by orthopedist James Andrews, who removed bone spurs from Hill's elbow last September, found no structural problems with the elbow. Hill was cleared to resume throwing in a few days.

--RHP Jordan Zimmermann is making a strong impression in his first big-league camp. The 22-year-old rookie, rated the Nationals' top prospect, did not allow a hit in any of his first five spring training innings. The organization is being cautious with Zimmermann, who has never pitched above Class AA, but manager Manny Acta has said he has a chance to make the Opening Day rotation.

--C Jesus Flores has a slight strain of his right elbow, and he won't return for several days. Flores complained of pain and underwent an MRI that revealed the strain. The injury was not believed to be serious.

--2B Anderson Hernandez finally made his spring training debut March 3 against the Italian World Baseball Classic team. Hernandez, the front-runner to win Washington's starting second base job, had been held out of the lineup through the first week of games because manager Manny Acta wanted to give him a break following a busy 2008 season. Between games in the major leagues, minor leagues and in winter ball, Hernandez had close to 900 at-bats. "That week off Manny gave me felt good," he said. "I don't feel tired. It feels good. But sometimes you need to rest even when you don't feel tired."

--RHP Daniel Cabrera is off to a rough start with the Nationals. Cabrera, signed for $2.6 million over the winter, has allowed three runs and eight hits in four innings so far. The Nationals are working with the 27-year-old on trying to lengthen his stride to the plate in hopes of getting more consistency out of him, but Cabrera hasn't seen the results yet.

BY THE NUMBERS: 15 -- Consecutive batters retired by 22-year-old RHP Jordan Zimmermann, who is trying to make the Nationals' Opening Day rotation.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "There wasn't a team that wanted to touch me with a 10-foot pole, and he was the only one that gave me an opportunity." -- 1B Dmitri Young, on recently resigned GM Jim Bowden, who signed Young as a minor league free agent following a difficult 2006 season with the Tigers.