Right-hander Jerome Williams will begin the season in the Washington Nationals' starting rotation.

The Nationals sent right-hander Tim Redding outright to Triple-A Columbus yesterday, a move that solidifies a starting spot for Williams, a 1999 Waipahu High School graduate.

Redding now must decide whether to accept his minor league assignment or become a free agent.

"He's just got to go down there and get his act together and hopefully get a shot later on," said manager Manny Acta, who managed Redding in the minors in the Houston Astros' organization.

Also yesterday, right-hander Joel Hanrahan was optioned to Columbus, another demotion that ties in with Williams' earning a rotation spot, alongside John Patterson, Shawn Hill and Matt Chico (who allowed five earned runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings against the Braves yesterday).

"I think it's safe to say that Jerome Williams is in the rotation right now," Acta said.

The other member probably would be Jason Simontacchi, but he's sidelined by a groin injury. The right-hander, who last pitched in the majors in 2004, was originally slated to start yesterday against Atlanta.

"He's not going to start the season with us. He's not going to be able to do it," Acta said.

Meanwhile, Dmitri Young will be the starting first baseman for the Nationals on opening day because his chief remaining competition, Travis Lee, asked to be released.

Young will fill in for Nick Johnson, the Nationals' incumbent first baseman who's expected to miss at least the first two months of the season while recovering from a broken leg.

PIRATES

DL POSSIBLE FOR SANCHEZ

NL batting champion Freddy Sanchez, who has been out since March 6 with a sprained ligament in his right knee, isn't ready to play and the Pittsburgh Pirates are weighing whether he should go on the disabled list, even if it is for only a week.

Sanchez is hitting, fielding ground balls and running straight ahead but can't run the bases at full speed. Until he can, Sanchez won't get the at-bats he needs to prepare for the season.

If Sanchez can't go, former starting second baseman Jose Castillo likely would start there on opening day.

CUBS

WOOD SHAKY IN RELIEF

Kerry Wood, the oft-injured Chicago Cubs pitcher trying to regain his form after switching from starting pitcher to reliever, failed to protect a seventh-inning lead yesterday.

He gave up three runs that allowed the Los Angeles Angels to beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 in Mesa, Ariz.

The 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, trying to stay off the disabled list and make the Cubs' opening-day roster, gave up a two-run homer to Kendry Morales after the Angels tied it at 1. In his one inning, Wood yielded three hits while striking out one.

Wood, who rehabbed this winter from a shoulder injury, strained his right triceps March 11 and didn't pitch again until Friday. For the spring, he has thrown five innings, giving up seven hits, seven runs and two homers.

The Cubs haven't decided whether Wood will open the season on the active roster or if he needs more time to build up arm strength.

ELSEWHERE

Cardinals: St. Louis center fielder Jim Edmonds, who is recovering from offseason shoulder and toe surgeries, took a big step toward being ready for opening day by playing in his first spring training game yesterday at Jupiter, Fla.

The eight-time Gold Glove winner hit second in the batting order, drawing a walk and grounding out in a 6-5 loss to Baltimore. He was removed in the fourth inning.

Mets: New York finally settled on five starting pitchers for their suspect rotation, tabbing top prospect Mike Pelfrey for one spot. John Maine and Oliver Perez, as expected, will fill the other slots behind Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez.

Pelfrey, the ninth overall pick in the 2005 draft out of Wichita State, allowed four runs and six hits in five innings of an 11-3 loss to Houston yesterday at Port St. Lucie, Fla. But he pitched well throughout spring training, and that was enough to win a job.

Yankees: New York reassigned outfielder Bronson Sardinha to minor-league camp on Saturday. Sardinha, a Kamehameha Schools alum, hit a winning, two-run homer off Felix Heredia with two outs in the ninth as New York beat the Detroit Tigers, 6-5, on March 5 in Tampa, Fla.