Around NL East Spring Training, 3/18: Strasburg's Not Gone Yet

Marlins: Ricky Nolasco showed signs of returning to ace form today, pitching perfect through four innings with 6 Ks…C John Baker homered in a minor-league exhibition and hopes to return to the lineup Sunday…Cameron Maybin (groin) and Jorge Cantu (flu) returned to the lineup.

Braves: Spring Training stats generally mean nothing, but Nate McLouth is 1-31 so far…Chipper Jones hit a homer, a welcome sight after last year’s power outage.

Mets: Pedro Feliciano left the game after being struck by a linedrive. The team classified it as a bruised knee and said his removal was precautionary…Alex Cora will be the Mets’ starting shortstop if Jose Reyes starts the season on the DL.

Nationals: Matt Chico, Livan Hernandez, J.D. Marton, Sharion Martis, Craig Stammen, and The Stephen Strasburg are all in competition for the last spot in the Nats rotation…The Nationals may or may not trade SS Cristian Guzman before opening day…GM Mike Rizzo is optimistic that he’ll get an extension worked out with Adam Dunn soon…RHP Zech Zincola was sent back to Washington by the Blue Jays, per Rule 5 guidelines.

Phillies: Brad Lidge pitched in a minor league game, but opening day remains a long shot.