The Nationals will keep Stephen Strasburg under watch like any other ace early in a longer-than-usual Spring Training.

"He's on a 45-pitch limit [Saturday]," Davey Johnson said. "Just depending on his pitch efficiency, he could go two or even go three [innings]."

Because of the schedule, Strasburg could make as many as seven Grapefruit League starts. With that in mind, Johnson will probably have his right-hander on a slower program to begin the year.

"You try to have a progression, just a little more each time," Johnson said. "You kind of push him -- I'd say when he's got two more starts, you kind of taper him down. But being that we're starting early, all I want is for him to be ready to throw 100 pitches Opening Day."