Brad Lidge

Brad Lidge will serve as closer on Opening Day.

And Henry Rodriguez will have the responsibility in the Nationals’ next game. Washington is going to rotate between the relievers until Drew Storen (elbow) is ready.

Brad Lidge fanned all three Mets he faced Saturday in his inning of relief.

Lidge entered last spring healthy, but he went down in mid-March and didn’t rejoin the Phillies until after the All-Star break. The early results this spring have been more encouraging, as he’s allowed one run in three inninfs to date.

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said Brad Lidge was given an “enhanced MRI” before he signed his one-year deal.

The test came back clear. Lidge has battled both shoulder and elbow injuries in recent years, but he’s been effective when healthy and will enter spring camp with the Nationals at 100 percent. They’ll hope he can avoid the disabled list and operate as a reliable seventh-inning setup man throughout the 2012 campaign.

Nationals signed RHP Brad Lidge to a one-year contract.

Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports that the deal is worth $1 million and includes some incentives. Lidge doesn’t bring the heat like he used to and relies mainly on his slider to get hitters out, but he still managed a 1.40 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 19 2/3 innings with the Phillies last season. The 35-year-old isn’t a good bet to stay healthy, but he brings some experience to the back-end of Washington’s bullpen.

Jim Salisbury of CSNWashington.com reports that Brad Lidge is close to an agreement with the Nationals.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com first hinted as the possibility early Thursday morning. Lidge’s closing days are likely behind him and he relies mostly on his slider at this point, but he would do fine as a set-up man for young Drew Storen. The 35-year-old had a 1.40 ERA and 23/13 K/BB ratio in 19 2/3 innings last season for the Phillies.