WASHINGTON - The Washington Nationals have activated Doug Fister from the disabled list to start Thursday night against Tampa Bay.

The right-handed Fister spent 35 days on the disabled list with forearm tightness. He is 2-2 with a 4.31 ERA in seven starts.

Right-handed reliever Taylor Hill was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. The 26-year-old Hill had a 3.75 ERA in six relief appearances for Washington, allowing five earned runs in 12 innings.

"He's been pressed into duty a couple of times in mid-games that he's had to come in and pitch multiple innings, but I think he's done well," manager Matt Williams said.

Williams said right-hander Max Scherzer will start the series opener against Pittsburgh on Friday. Gio Gonzalez would pitch Saturday and Joe Ross would start Sunday.