Washington Nationals

As Jayson Werth explained it to reporters after his lone rehab start last week with High-A Potomac, things went well in the game he played with the High-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. "'I got some work in today,'" Werth was quoted stating in the team's official game report, "We talked about getting two to three at-bats. I got two just because of all of the activity. I feel pretty good. We'll try again tomorrow. And then we'll see.'" Werth did not play in the game the next day. As the Nationals' now-34-year-old (Happy Birthday?) outfielder told the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore tonight, however, he actually felt something happen in his hamstring early in that game: "'When I played in Potomac last week I felt my hammy grab on my first [at-bat] when I left the box on the groundout,' Werth said in an e-mail." Werth went to see his personal doctor after the rehab start and said an MRI confirmed what he already knew. The Nationals' outfielder's hamstring is going to take longer to heal than originally expected. Reports out of AT&T Park tonight, where the Nats started a three-game set with the San Francisco Giants, said Davey Johnson told reporters he got an "alarming report" on his right fielder and two-hole hitter. As Johnson explained it to reporters, including the WaPost's Mr. Kilgore, the doctors said Werth might be out for at least two more weeks as he takes a more cautious approach to his recovery. Werth hasn't played in a game since May 2nd, and his 15-Day DL stint was backdated to the 3rd so he would have been eligible to return to the field this past Saturday. When it was clear that he wouldn't make that date, the hope was that Werth could return for the Nationals' homestand next weekend, but the reports today say that's not going to happen either. Werth missed significant time after suffering a broken left wrist on a play in the outfield early last season, then returned to lead the Nationals in their first run at the NL East division title. In 27 games and 107 plate appearances so far in 2013, Werth has a .260/.308/.400 line with two doubles and four home runs. Werth joins fellow hamstring injury victim Wilson Ramos on the DL. Ramos is on his second DL stint of the year after injuring the hamstring earlier this season and re-injuring it upon returning from action.

Update: Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Monday that he received “an alarming report” about Werth (hamstring) following an MRI, and it could be two more weeks before Werth’s ready to return, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports. View full post on Yahoo! Sports – MLB – Washington Nationals News

If you May 20 in the pool for when the Nationals would need a sixth starting pitcher, collect now. Zach Duke will take the mound tonight against Ryan Vogelsong in a meeting of starters with ERAs of 8.40 and 8.06. … Continue reading →

So Bryce returns to the Nationals lineup tonight, batting third: there he is above taking BP as seen on MASN tonight. And here's Harper talking about how sliding could be a problem tonight on MASN's Nats Xtra pregame show: "It was more of just running on it. Sliding. things like that. I think the slide's probably gonna hurt the worst. If I bang it up or something it's right back to square one. So hopefully I don't do that." Please don't slide. Meanwhile, Jayson Werth could miss another two weeks. That hammy is strained. (Screencap via MASN/TV) Befriend Nats Enquirer on Facebook. Follow on Twitter. Related articles Bryce Harper runs into Dodger Stadium wall, leaves game shaken up and bleeding... Video: Davey Johnson on Bryce Harper's crash into Dodger Stadium wall Bryce Harper and Johnny Manziel hug it out at Petco Park Meet Bryce Harper's ingrown toenail Werth on Harper's home plate collision: "The way he reacted, I thought he got shot. I wanted to make sure the little guy was all right"

Bryce Harper returned to the Nationals’ lineup tonight after missing the previous two contests with swelling in his left knee. Harper tested the knee in the outfield this afternoon and determined he could play on it, although swelling and bruising … Continue reading →

Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth could spend roughly two more weeks on the disabled list after an MRI exam today revealed a more significant strain in his hamstring than originally thought, Manager Davey Johnson said. Johnson did not have an … Continue reading →

Associated PressBeautiful AT&T Park hosts the Nationals for the next three days.What's the best cure for a struggling lineup? How about the return of its best hitter from injury? Bryce Harper is back tonight for the Nationals, having missed the last two games in San Diego over the weekend with a bruised knee (from his collision with the wall in L.A. one week ago). His presence in the No. 3 spot really does make that starting lineup look a lot more formidable, especially with Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche each on a tear at the plate right now.The Nationals might need an offensive explosion tonight, because they're sending to the mound someone who wasn't in their original Opening Day rotation for the first time this season. With Ross Detwiler hampered by a slight oblique strain, Zach Duke gets the nod for his first MLB start since 2011. The veteran lefty has been erratic out of the bullpen so far, but his background is as a starter, so perhaps he'll be more comfortable taking the ball for the first inning tonight.Duke will be working with Jhonatan Solano, getting a rare start behind the plate. Struggling Ryan Vogelsong is on the mound for the defending World Series champion Giants, who are struggling themselves at the moment and desperately need to get themselves back on track.As you know, I'm not on this West Coast trip, but I'll be staying up late and watching along with the rest of you. Enjoy the game and the conversation...WASHINGTON NATIONALS at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTSWhere: AT&T ParkGametime: 10:15 p.m. EDTTV: MASN, MLB.tvRadio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), XM 189Weather: Clear, 63 degrees, Wind 6 mph out to RFNATIONALS (23-21)CF Denard Span2B Steve LombardozziRF Bryce Harper3B Ryan ZimmermanRead more »

Bryce Harper is back. Washington Nationals' manager said last night, after the Nats' loss to the San Diego Padres, that they would have to take a wait-and-see approach with their 20-year-old outfielder. Harper's been recovering from his collision with the right field wall in Dodger Stadium early last week, which apparently bruised the entire left side of his body, but it was the left knee in particular that kept Harper on the sidelines in the the third and fourth games in Petco Park. "He's been getting a lot of treatment on it," Johnson told reporters after the finale with the Padres. "He's still got some swelling in there, we'll see how it is tomorrow." Apparently the knee is healed up enough for Harper to get into the lineup tonight in San Francisco, California's AT&T Park: Tonight's lineup at SFG: Span CF, Lombardozzi 2B, Harper RF, Zimmerman 3B, LaRoche 1B, DesmondSS, Bernadina LF, Solano C, Duke P. — Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) May 20, 2013 Zach Duke is on the mound for the Nationals tonight in place of injured left-hander Ross Detwiler, who's out with an oblique issue. Though Duke, 30, has struggled in his role as the Nats' left-handed long man this season, with an 8.40 ERA, a 4.42 FIP, four walks (2.40 BB/9) and 10 Ks (6.00 K/9) in 15.0 IP, the veteran lefty started at Triple-A Syracuse in the Nationals' organization in 2012, posting a (15-5) record, a 3.51 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 39 walks (2.14 BB/9) and 91 Ks (4.98 K/9) in 26 starts and 164.1 IP in his first year with Washington. Duke is (2-3) in 10 games, 8 starts and 54.2 IP in his career against the Giants, with a 3.79 ERA, 5 HR (0.82 HR/9) and 15 BB (2.47 BB/9) allowed, 22 Ks (3.62 K/9) collected and a 1.32 WHIP. Jhonatan Solano gets the start behind the plate tonight with Kurt Suzuki getting a rest and Danny Espinosa, who is 1 for 24 with 12 Ks on the current road trip, sits for Steve Lombardozzi, who gets a start at second in the first game of three for the Nats in AT&T. Game time 10:10 pm EST from San Francisco.

Bryce Harper will return to the lineup after he missed the past two days with swelling in his left knee, the most prominent lingering effect of his collision with the Dodger Stadium wall. Danny Espinosa, meantime, will sit in favor … Continue reading →

Several units of the Nationals have endured rough patches through the first six weeks of the season, but none more detrimental than the struggles of the offense. As it has been well documented here, the Nationals offense is head-scratchily ineffective. … Continue reading →