Will Nats convince Zimmerman to go on rehab assignment?

PHILADELPHIA - Ryan Zimmerman took the unusual step this afternoon of walking into the visitors' bullpen at Citizens Bank Park with a bat in hand. The purpose: To stand in the batter's box as both Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez threw pitches during their standard between-starts bullpen session.

"Just trying to see pitches as much as I can," said Zimmerman, who has been on the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle since May 12. "So when it is time to come back, I've already seen as many pitches as I can without having to play a lot of games. Or any games. Who knows?"

The timetable for Zimmerman's activation off the DL remains murky, but the day appears to be fast approaching. The veteran first baseman has been hitting in the cage, and he also played catch from up to about 120 feet today. At some point in the next few days, he'll take batting practice and groundballs on the field and start running the bases, at which point it's decision time.

"Once we run the bases and make sure that's all good and get back into shape for a few days doing that, then we're really close," he said. "Once you start running the bases and seeing how you feel the next day, that's kind of the last thing. I've been able to hit and do stuff in the cage, and throw. So that won't take long at all. I've just got to start taking groundballs and hitting, and somehow maybe find some at-bats or do something. We'll figure it out when we get to that point."

Conventional wisdom says Zimmerman would go on a minor league rehab assignment sometime next week. Zimmerman, of course, is the guy who notoriously avoided playing in Grapefruit League games all spring and doesn't believe rehab games are essential.

It may not be his decision to make this time.

"These guys don't like to go out and play," manager Davey Martinez said. "We'll see. But he's missed some time. I would like for him to go out and at least play three games or so."

Also nearing a return is Stephen Strasburg, who has ramped things up in the last few days as he attempts to return from inflammation in his shoulder. The right-hander threw some pitches on flat ground in the outfield Thursday, and he felt well enough at the end of that session to proceed to the bullpen and make 25 light tosses off the mound.

Strasburg was back in the bullpen this afternoon, though instead of throwing any pitches he merely mimicked the motion with a towel in his hand.

More encouraging news: Matt Adams took BP today for the first time since fracturing his left index finger two weeks ago in Toronto. The slugger is progressing faster than may initially have been expected and should be able to ramp things up now.

"We'll see how he feels after today, and then he's going to take some groundballs and do all baseball activities," Martinez said. "So we'll see where he's at after today. He's feeling much better."