Nats ready to look at young players

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CHICAGO — The Nationals never thought this would be the case in a season with the highest of expectations, but they are preparing to start looking at more young players over the next six weeks at the expense of a few veteran regulars.

Manager Davey Johnson said he plans to give Tyler Moore more starts at first base down the stretch, perhaps going so far as to platoon the 26-year-old at first base with veteran Adam LaRoche.

"I'm not in the position I'd like to be in, but there is a necessity to look at some guys," Johnson said. "And we'll be doing that. I mentioned the other day that Tyler Moore has to get some at-bats, some regular at-bats. And I'll be doing that with some other guys. I'm not going to go into naming them, because that's gonna happen on a daily basis. It's not gonna be a set plan."

Johnson also said rookie right-hander Tanner Roark could get a chance to move into the rotation, perhaps swapping spots with Ross Ohlendorf, who makes his return from the disabled list tonight.
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Tuesday morning tidbits

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Catching up on some things after a couple of days off...

— By almost every measure other than won-loss record, Stephen Strasburg has been better this season than in either of his two previous "full" seasons: 2010 and 2012. (Yes, I know neither of those actually was a full season, but I'm just trying to refer to everything other than his abbreviated 2011, when he made only five starts after returning from Tommy John surgery.)

Strasburg's ERA (2.83), WHIP (1.039) and hits allowed (6.7 per nine innings) all are better this year than in '10 or '12, but perhaps the most significant sign of his progress is this simple one: He's throwing more innings than ever before.

Indeed, Strasburg is average 6.36 innings per start this season. Compare that to his 5.69 mark in 2012 and his 5.67 mark in 2010. And Strasburg's number this year is skewed a bit by a pair of two-inning starts (May 31 when he strained his lat muscle in

Espinosa officially optioned to AAA

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Updated at 6:45 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA — What had been planned for more than two weeks became official this afternoon: Danny Espinosa was optioned to Class AAA Syracuse, leaving the Nationals' former starting second baseman a full-time minor-leaguer until he proves his bat is big-league-worthy again.

Espinosa had already joined the Syracuse roster last week, but technically he was on a rehab assignment while recovering from a right wrist injury. Today, the Nationals deemed the 26-year-old healthy and activated him off the 15-day disabled list, then immediately optioned him to Class AAA so he can continue to work on his swing in the minors.

"We're trying to tear down his approach and his swing and make some adjustments, and see if we can get back the Danny Espinosa that we saw such good progress in when he first got to the big leagues," general manager Mike Rizzo said.
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Rizzo on Harper: 'No worry about it'

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With his superstar outfielder set to visit Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on his swollen left knee the following day, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo spoke calmly about his expectations for the diagnosis before Sunday's doubleheader. According to Rizzo, there is no reason to fear the worst regarding Bryce Harper and that getting a look by Andrews is just business as usual for an injury of his sort.

“There’s no worry about it,” Rizzo said. “It is our protocol that players get a second opinion on any part of the body that we feel is a disabled list type of injury. Guys get second opinions all the time here, and every guy that we put on the disabled list has gotten a second opinion.”

Rizzo compared Harper to other players on the team, pointing out that the process is no different.

“We send them to our team physician, he makes his diagnosis, we start the rehab, and we get a second opinion … that’s our protocol. This is no different than we [Strasburg] went out, when Detwiler went out, it’s the same thing.”

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Espinosa, Detwiler injury updates

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In addition to the news Bryce Harper will see Dr. James Andrews about his left knee, Nats manager Davey Johnson provided injury updates on Danny Espinosa and Ross Detwiler Thursday afternoon. 

Espinosa was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 4 (retroactive to June 3) with a fractured right wrist. He saw the Nationals hand specialist this week and received an MRI on both his hand and shoulder. Espinosa was discovered to have a torn left rotator cuff in the offseason, but opted to rehab the injury without surgery. 

“They also did an MRI on his shoulder, put some dye in there, it revealed a little injury into his rotator cuff,” Johnson said. 

“But that doesn’t bother him too much. He got a shot in his hand so he’ll probably be down for about four or five days before he can start doing baseball things. All that was kind of to be expected.”

Espinosa to DL, H-Rod and Duke DFA'd

[Updated 6:07 p.m.]

Returning home a game below .500 after a series loss against the Atlanta Braves, the Nationals made major roster moves on Tuesday in attempt to right the ship.

Second baseman Danny Espinosa was sent to the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to June 3), and relief pitchers Henry Rodgriguez and Zach Duke were designated for assignment. Called up to replace them were infielder Anthony Rendon from the Syracuse Chiefs and relief pitcher Ian Krol from the Harrisburg Senators. Outfielder Jayson Werth was also activated from the disabled list.

“It was a tough day for me,” manager Davey Johnson said. “Any time you have to designate a couple of your family to the waiver list, it’s tough. You feel a little lost that you couldn’t have put them in situations to get better. So it hurts, it hurts both ways.”

“It has nothing to do with trying something different,” general manager Mike Rizzo said. “It’s putting the best 25 out there at this particular time to help us win baseball games. “

Game 57: Nats at Braves

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nats wrap up their series at Turner Field this afternoon.

ATLANTA — Having lost last night's game in frustrating fashion, the Nationals now find themselves in something of a must-win spot this afternoon, desperately needing to take this series and gain ground on the Braves instead of falling to 6 1/2 games back. Which puts some undo pressure on Nate Karns, making only his second career start.

Karns impressed in his debut Tuesday against the Orioles, but he'll need to take it up another notch today against Atlanta, which has had some time to scout the right-hander. The key for Karns: Can he save something in the tank for the second time around the lineup and get through at least five innings?

Paul Maholm starts for the Braves, and he's been great against the Nationals so far this season, giving up two runs and seven hits in 15 2/3 innings. The left-hander will be facing a lineup that today features a 6-7-8 of Tyler Moore, Danny Espinosa and Jhonatan Solano. The rationale for starting Espinosa, despite his struggles: He's traditionally a much better right-handed hitter. The problem: He's hitting .129 from the right side of the plate this year, worse than his .168 average from the left side.

Updates to come, so please check back...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Turner Field
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), XM 186
Weather: Chance of storms, 81 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to CF

NATIONALS (28-28)
CF Denard Span
LF Steve Lombardozzi
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche

Rendon will play 2B at AAA

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Anthony Rendon was promoted to Class AAA Syracuse last night.

ATLANTA — The Nationals promoted Anthony Rendon to Class AAA Syracuse late last night and plan to give their top prospect an extended look at second base, the likely final step toward his permanent arrival in the big leagues.

Rendon had appeared in five games at second base for Class AA Harrisburg but still spent the majority of his time at his natural third base position. In Syracuse, though, he'll work extensively with manager Tony Beasley (a former second baseman himself) on mastering the middle infield, which would prepare him for another promotion to Washington to possibly take over as the Nationals' everyday second baseman, according to sources familiar with the organization's plan.

Having received a paltry offensive performance from their second basemen this season — the group's .539 OPS ranks dead-last in MLB — the Nationals could benefit from adding Rendon's bat to

Davey: 'We'll probably make some changes'

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Nationals manager Davey Johnson was not his usual, talkative self after Washington's 2-0 loss to the Orioles on Thursday night. He generally holds court and talks extensively about any topic, any question, regardless of the outcome.

But Johnson was clearly upset after the team's seventh shutout of the season and walked away from reporters after just four questions. He tried to leave after two.

With the season one-third of the way over, Johnson was asked whether he will shake things up with an underperforming team and first place Atlanta up next. He was honest.

"We'll probably make some changes," he said. "But that's for another day."

Johnson and the Nationals have a good chance of having Bryce Harper back in the lineup for Friday's game. If that possibility comes true, their lineup will instantly improve. But what other adjustments could Johnson make?

Nats' offense shuts down in loss to O's

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BALTIMORE — After a night in which the Nats and Orioles combined for 16 runs, and with two pitchers who have been inconsistent this season on the mound, Thursday’s game at Camden Yards was supposed to be another home run derby. It was a hot and humid evening at a hitters' park, balls were supposed to fly.

But something about the heat may have actually helped Orioles pitcher Freddy Garcia. The 36-year-old found a groove that had escaped him all season and used a split-finger fastball to baffle the Nationals lineup throughout Baltimore’s 2-0 win.

“The split-finger he was throwing, basically like facing R.A. Dickey,” Ian Desmond said. “I think the humidity and the tackiness on the ball, his fingers, there's probably a little bit of sweat going on there, that pitch was pretty unbelievable tonight.”

“A knuckle or something, I don’t know,” Ryan Zimmerman said. “If a pitcher’s got a good pitch and he throws it as much as he did obviously you start to look for it and we still can’t hit it. It’s just one of those nights where he had a really good pitch and he used it as much as he could and it worked for him.”

Davey on Espinosa & Lombo; injury updates

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BALTIMORE — When Danny Espinosa needed a week to rest his wrist after discovering a loose bone chip was causing pain and inflammation, Steve Lombardozzi filled in quite nicely as the Nationals' starting second baseman.

In five starts from May 24-28, Lombardozzi went 6-for-20 with four RBI, two doubles, and three runs. Washington saw a spark they perhaps hadn't seen quite yet from Espinosa who holds a .163 average through 40 games.

But despite performing well as a replacement, Lombardozzi was sent back to the bench when Espinosa returned. Manager Davey Johnson said he wants to see how Espinosa fares after resting the hand for a few days and then go from there.

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Game 53: Nats at Orioles

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Battle of the Beltways shifts to Camden Yards tonight.

BALTIMORE — Hello from Camden Yards, where tonight the new-look Battle of Beltways continues with the series shifting north 45 miles. This is the new wrinkle of interleague rivalry play this season, and I have to say I kind of like how this worked out. Baseball doesn't normally do "home-and-home" series, other than in the postseason, so this has a distinctly different feel to it.

The series, of course, is knotted at one game apiece after the Nationals thumped the Orioles last night. Tonight, they'll give the ball to Jordan Zimmermann, seeking to become the majors' first 9-game winner. He'll be going up against a tough Orioles lineup, though, one that we've already seen do some damage the last two nights.

Chris Tillman starts for Baltimore, facing a Nationals lineup that is again without Bryce Harper but does have Danny Espinosa back after five straight days off to let his fractured right wrist try to heal. Chad Tracy, meanwhile, has the honor of serving as DH for this game in the AL park.

Lots of updates to come, so please check back...

BALTIMORE ORIOLES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), WTEM (980 AM), XM 177
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 88 degrees, Wind 9 mph out to CF

NATIONALS (27-25)
CF Denard Span
RF Roger Bernadina
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche

Nats reflect on passing of Dr. Yocum

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Dr. Lewis Yocum, renowned sports orthopedist who performed surgeries on many of the biggest names in baseball, has passed away at the age of 65 after a year-long battle with liver cancer.

Yocum did the Tommy John surgeries for many Nationals players including Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Lucas Giolito, and Sammy Solis. He also advised Danny Espinosa during his recovery this offseason from a torn rotator cuff.

Zimmermann spoke to reporters on Tuesday just minutes after learning of the news. He expressed gratitude for Yocum’s work in reconstructing his elbow in 2009.

“He saved my career,” Zimmermann said. “He was a great guy and obviously saved my career and I wouldn’t be here without him.”

Zimmermann said he sent Yocum a text message three days before hearing he had passed. Zimmermann had learned he was in the hospital and not doing well.

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Harper out with bursitis; other updates

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Bryce Harper is out of the Nationals lineup against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday after leaving Sunday’s game in the seventh inning with an aggravated sore knee. An MRI showed no structural damage for Harper, but he has been diagnosed with bursitis.

Team Medical Director Wiemi Douogiuh said a few days rest is the best course of action at this point.

“Bryce has got some inflammation of a bursa sac in the front of his knee,” Douogiuh said. “It has nothing to do with the joint. We got an MRI that just showed some soft tissue swelling, soft tissue edema. We anticipate it’s going to clear up in a couple of days. There is nothing structurally wrong with his knee.”

Harper said on Sunday he did not plan to miss any time, but Davey Johnson and the Nationals decided it was best to have him sit.

“If you were seeing the same thing I was seeing, he was hurting even when he came into the dugout,” Johnson said.

“I think it’s just uncomfortable -- it’s like an inflammation. We just need to let it calm down. It was a little more swollen today.”

Team trainer Lee Kuntz said the Nats are most concerned at this point with Harper re-injuring the knee.

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Lombardozzi shines in Nats' win vs. Phillies

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Ask Steve Lombardozzi to do just about anything for his baseball team and he’ll do it. Since his debut with the Nats in 2011 he’s played second base, third base, shortstop, and left field. Last year when catchers were going down left and right, Davey Johnson said he would call on the Columbia, Md. native as the emergency backstop if the situation ever presented itself.

So when it was discovered Danny Espinosa would be out at least a few days with a floating chip in his right wrist, naturally Lombardozzi was there to step in. The super utility man known as ‘Lombo’ made the most of the opportunity, going 3-for-4 with two RBI in the Nats’ 5-2 win over the Phillies on Friday night.

“You never want anybody to get injured,” Lombardozzi said. “But when my name’s called, I’m gonna be ready.”

The 24-year-old Lombardozzi doesn’t say much. In a rare postgame session with reporters, he spoke softly and kept his answers short, always polite and often deflecting praise to his teammates. But after his three-hit performance at the plate, a big part of the Nationals’ win, Lombardozzi’s teammates weren’t quite as restrained.

Nats to call up Kobernus, DFA Maya

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In need of depth on their bench, the Washington Nationals are calling up second baseman Jeff Kobernus from the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs and designating relief pitcher Yunesky Maya for assignment. Kobernus’ contract will be purchased to place him on the 40-man roster as Maya will now go through the waiver process.

Kobernus joins the Nats to provide an extra position player with Danny Espinosa out with a loose bone chip in his right wrist.

“We’re doing something with Maya and calling up Kobernus,” Davey Johnson said. “We’re already one player short with four players on the bench, I like to have at least five. And with Espinosa down, we can’t go with three.”

Kobernus, 24, has spent four seasons in Washington’s minor league system after being drafted by the club in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft. He has yet to make his major league debut.

Espinosa out with chip in right wrist

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Add another name to the long list of Nationals injuries. 

Second baseman Danny Espinosa has a loose bone chip in his right wrist and is expected to miss several days with the disabled list not out of the question. Davey Johnson said it’s related to the sore wrist that kept him out for four games in mid-April after he took a Paul Maholm pitch off his hand against the Braves.

Espinosa missed four games after being hit on April 14, but returned in the Nats’ series that weekend on April 20 against the Mets. Espinosa apparently continued to experience pain, but opted to play through it up until now.

“The problem is that it’s a broken bone,” Johnson said. “The problem is the inflammation and pain from the broken bone. I know what that’s like.”

“The best way I feel is to have him rest it for a couple of days, no hitting and no throwing, and see if he can get by the discomfort in his right wrist.”

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How much more rope for Espinosa?

Associated Press

After going 0-for-4 last night, Danny Espinosa is hitting .175 for the season.

There's no shame in being shut out by Clayton Kershaw, so it's tough to be overly critical of the Nationals after they were overwhelmed by the Dodgers ace last night during a 2-0 loss in Los Angeles.

Truth be told, several members of the Nats lineup put together some really impressive at-bats against Kershaw, from Ryan Zimmerman's 3-hit night to Adam LaRoche and Eury Perez fouling off pitch after pitch from the lefty late, driving up his pitch count to the point manager Don Mattingly had no choice but to pull his starter (at 132 pitches) with two outs in the ninth.

But in the bigger picture, the Nationals still aren't putting together enough quality at-bats on a nightly basis. Zimmerman and LaRoche certainly appear to be coming along after slow starts, Ian Desmond has been solid and Bryce Harper has carried this club offensively through much of the season's first six weeks.

But there are a couple of major holes in the lineup right now, and the biggest of them all is occupied by Danny Espinosa.

Early jam, late fireworks

Associated Press

Tyler Moore rounds the bases after his eighth-inning homer.

PITTSBURGH — Gio Gonzalez stood on the mound at PNC Park in the bottom of the first inning, the afternoon off to as bad a start as the Nationals could possibly have imagined.

Bryce Harper had been ejected after arguing a check-swing call in the top of the inning. Starling Marte had crushed Gonzalez's very first pitch into the left-field bleachers. Ryan Zimmerman had committed another throwing error on a routine grounder. And now the bases were loaded with nobody out, the Pirates threatening to blow this series finale open before the Nationals would even know what hit them.

The situation was ripe for disaster, especially for an emotional pitcher like Gonzalez, who has been known to let a bad situation turn worse. Experience, though, has taught the 27-year-old lefty how to better handle such situations.

"When you get older, you get a little more experience, you start figuring out things, little-by-little," he said. "I think a younger me would have probably spiraled out of control and tried to be too much or tried to do too much."

Instead of trying to do too much, Gonzalez did only what he could do: Take back control of this ballgame. He wriggled his way out of that first-inning jam, then dominated the rest of the way to lead the Nationals to a hard-earned, 6-2 victory over Pittsburgh.
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Instant analysis: Nats 6, Pirates 2

Associated Press

Gio Gonzalez survived a shaky first inning to earn a quality start.

Game in a nutshell: The finale of this series and the road trip began in crazy fashion, with Bryce Harper ejected after arguing a check-swing called by third base umpire John Hirschbeck in the top of the first. Gio Gonzalez then gave up a homer on the very first pitch he threw and loaded the bases with nobody out. But Gonzalez settled down and the rest of the Nationals followed suit. Danny Espinosa delivered a big, two-run homer in the fourth, and Tyler Moore added a three-run blast in the eighth. Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard and Rafael Soriano then closed out the victory, ending this road trip with four wins in five days and leaving the Nationals two games over .500 for the first time in more than a week.

Hitting highlight: Once again, just when it looked like he was going to have a nothing day, Tyler Moore suddenly made it all seem worthwhile. Yesterday, he struck out twice with the bases loaded