3. Nationals Insider Nats won't rush Wang back Though Chien-Ming Wang has progressed quickly from a strained hamstring and could be ready to return to a big-league mound by the end of the month, the Nationals plan to take things slowly with the veteran right-hander, not feeling the need to rush him back with the club's rotation already performing at such a high level. Wang is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game Wednesday at the Nationals' extended spring training complex in Viera, Fla. Manager Davey Johnson suggested the 32-year-old could start a minor-league game next week, but general manager Mike Rizzo said the rehab process will take longer than that, in part because there's no immediate need for another starter in his rotation right now. "I think [the current rotation depth] changes it," Rizzo said before tonight's game against the Astros. "We have the luxury, if you will, to really make sure that he's 100 percent healthy and stretched out and that the hammy, we don't re-aggravate it." Wang hurt himself March 15 trying to make a running play at first base. Club officials initially feared the injury was severe, but Wang was back playing catch within a week, leading the Nationals to believe he might only miss three or four starts to open the season. Because the injury was to his leg, not his arm, Wang has been able to maintain a throwing program throughout the last month. But he still hasn't pitched three full innings at any point since last season, and the Nationals want him to build up more stamina before activating him off the disabled list. "I don't think we're starting from Ground Zero right now, but he needs to build up his arm strength again, and his pitch count, and that type of thing," Rizzo said. "Because you don't want to bring him up, and he can only three or four innings. We'd like to ramp him up to where he's felt comfortable throwing 100 pitches." The plan, according to Rizzo, is for Wang to make pitch in at least two simulated games in Viera, then perhaps begin a minor-league rehab assignment that could last as many as 30 days. The way he was pitching before suffering the hamstring injury, Wang looked like a key piece to the back end of the Nationals' rotation. But 10 games into the season, they haven't missed his presence at all. Entering play today, they lead all major-league rotations with a 1.75 ERA and rank second with 57 strikeouts. Posted by Mark Zuckerman at 5:59 PM http://www.natsinsider.com/2012/04/nats-wont-rush-wang-back.html 4. MASN.com Chien-Ming Wang to face hitters Wednesday April 16, 2012 6:19 PM by Dan Kolko The news on Chien-Ming Wang continues to be positive. Wang, who is down at the Nationals' complex in Viera, Fl. rehabbing his strained left hamstring, will throw a simulated game tomorrow. This will be his first time throwing to hitters since suffering the hamstring injury March 15 in a spring training start against the Yankees. The Nationals will continue to take things very slow with the veteran right-hander, but if all goes well in Wang's simulated game, he could be ready to begin a rehab assignment with one of the Nats' minor league affiliates sometime in the next couple weeks. Because Wang is suffering from a lower-body injury, he's still been able to build up strength in his arm while he's been sidelined over the last month. "I think his arm is obviously ahead, because he's been doing a lot of throwing, and I liked where his arm was at (in spring)," manager Davey Johnson said. "I thought two or three more starts (before the injury) and he was going to be really good. I would expect him being pretty dang good arm strength-wise. I'm more concerned about the number of pitches." The Nats have said all along that they plan to bring Wang along his rehab at a very slow pace, but the way their starting pitchers have been performing so far this season, the organization has even less reason to rush Wang along. Washington's starters have delivered a 1.75 ERA through the first 10 games this season, which is the best mark in the majors. http://tinyurl.com/7r4tdse --

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