Nationals manager Matt Williams confirmed Thursday that Ryan Mattheus (chest) will not be ready for the start of the season. Mattheus, sidelined for most of the spring due to inflammation of a tendon in his chest, made his spring debut on Thursday and there simply isn't enough time left on the calendar for him to be ready for Opening Day. However, he should join Washington's bullpen by mid-April if all goes well.

Ryan Mattheus (chest) will make his first appearance of the spring on Thursday. Mattheus has missed all the action thus far due to, in short, chest inflammation. The right-hander threw to hitters on Monday, and he'll get his first taste of game action Thursday afternoon. Mattheus may still have enough time to earn a bullpen job, but Nationals manager Matt Williams has also been impressed with right-hander Aaron Barrett. Barrett may be a candidate for Mattheus' spot should the 30-year-old not be ready for Opening Day.

Ryan Mattheus (chest) threw to hitters Monday for the first time this spring. Mattheus fell behind this spring after being diagnosed with costochondritis, which is inflammation of a tendon in his chest, but he said he felt "really good" while using all of his pitches Monday. Relievers typically don't need much work to get ready for the season, but he's going to be cutting it pretty close.

Ryan Mattheus (chest) will throw live batting practice Monday. It will be the first time he's faced hitters since being diagnosed with costochondritis, which is inflammation of a tendon in his chest. There's a chance that Mattheus will still have time to get ready for Opening Day.

Ryan Mattheus (chest) was cleared to resume throwing after a checkup with Nationals trainers Tuesday. Mattheus was shut down for about two weeks with costochondritis -- inflammation of a tendon in his chest. He will hope to catch up to the other relievers in Nationals camp before the start of the 2014 regular season.

Ryan Mattheus (chest) has yet to be cleared to resume throwing. Mattheus is dealing with costochondritis, which is inflammation of a tendon in his chest. He's expected to start throwing again at some point later this week and should still have time to get ready for the season if he can avoid setbacks.

Ryan Mattheus said Tuesday that he's dealing with costochondritis, which is inflammation of a tendon in his chest. It's good news under the circumstances and the expectation is that Mattheus may need to rest for one or two weeks. However, he could be cutting it close to be ready for the season.

Ryan Mattheus (chest) may be shut down for 1-2 weeks. Mattheus underwent an MRI this weekend for an upper chest injury. "There's a joint in there that connects the cartilage to the sternum. I think I might have irritated the cartilage or an intercostal muscle or messed a rib up or something," the right-hander told reporters on Sunday. "I felt it after my second bullpen." This could obviously affect his ability to be 100 percent ready on Opening Day.

Ryan Mattheus has been shut down since last Tuesday due to an upper chest injury. Mattheus underwent an MRI but is still waiting on the results. Obviously, more will be known about his status once the results are known. "There's a joint in there that connects the cartilage to the sternum. I think I might have irritated the cartilage or an intercostal muscle or messed a rib up or something," Mattheus said. "I felt it after my second bullpen."

Nationals recalled RHP Ryan Mattheus from Triple-A Syracuse. Mattheus holds an ugly 6.26 ERA in 23 innings this season at the major league level. He'll be used in the middle innings.