Tim Redding said he hopes his back spasms aren't serious enough to keep him from missing his first start of the season, and the Nationals are proceeding as though he'll be OK (although the club is putting together a contingency plan that would ensure someone else -- probably John Lannan -- could slide into Redding's spot and start April 2 in Philadelphia if needed).
Redding began today's game against the Marlins with three scoreless innings, but as he was warming up for the fourth, he noticed some tightness on the right side of his back. He thinks it might have stemmed from him running the bases the previous inning on a bunt. Redding didn't think too much of it and felt he could push through it, but as the fourth inning went on he realized he was causing more damage than good. After throwing a low pitch that got by catcher Paul Lo Duca, he felt something "grab" and he hunched over and called for a trainer.
"I'm hard headed," he said. "I'm usually the one that tries to push the envelope and see if I can get out of the inning. Fortuantely enough it was a spring training game where it's not going to cost us any ground in the season. But at the same time for health reasons, I probably should have said something right away."
The prognosis, though, is good. Redding wasn't in any pain after some ice treatment and he plans to throw his regular bullpen session on Tuesday, then pitch in a minor-league game down here Friday (since the team doesn't have a game that day, only a workout at Nationals Park).
But if there is a silver lining, it's that the Nats feel more comfortable turning to their minor-league staff to find a replacement starter now than they did in the past.
"We have options this year," Manny Acta said. "That's what gives you a little more peace of mind."
Marlins won the game, 4-2. Lo Duca caught six innings and went 0-for-3 but reported no problems with his knee. Elijah Dukes played all nine innings and said his hamstring felt fine.
Oh, and Ray King (who was wearinig No. 92 because he forgot to pack his jersey!) wound up getting a plate appearance and dropping down a mighty impressive sacrifice bunt.
