Washington Nationals Injury Update: Michael Morse Out Six Weeks, Anthony Rendon Has Partial Fracture In Ankle.

The news could be better heading into Opening Day, but at least it's out of the way before today's game gets started. In a pregame meeting with reporters this morning, D.C. GM Mike Rizzo updated reporters on the injury issues currently plaguing the Washington Nationals. According to reports from Nats Park, 2011 1st Round pick Anthony Rendon, who suffered an injury rounding third base in a game last week, "... has a partial fracture in his left ankle," as the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore wrote on Twitter. Rendon, 21, battled injuries last year at Rice which limited the Owls' third baseman's playing time in the field and resulted in the hitter widely considered the best bat in the draft dropping to the 6th overall pick where the Nats took him with the first of their three first round picks. Rendon was just two games and six plate appearances into his first pro season with the Class-A Potomac Nationals when he suffered the injury which the Nats' GM told reporters, as NatsInsider.com's Mark Zuckerman wrote, "... actually heals quicker than sprain."

The other update was slightly worse...

[WARNING]: Bad Morse News Ahead...

The other update was slightly worse with the Nats' GM announcing that 30-year-old outfielder Michael Morse had reaggravated the lat issues he's been dealing with since early this Spring as he attempted to rehab the injury, and the 2011 offensive MVP has now gone into what the general manager described to reporters as, "full shutdown mode" for six weeks. Rizzo also added that there was, as the Washington Times' Amanda Comak wrote on Twitter, "... no 'viable surgical option' for Morse's injury." With Morse to miss significant time, the Nationals' GM told reporters, as MASN's Dan Kolko wrote, that, "... he'll be open to adding an [outfielder] if it makes sense in short & long term but also said he's comfortable [with] current [outfield]."

The only bits of good news? Drew Storen is reportedly at Nationals Park with his right arm in a sling talking about wanting to get back on the mound this season, and injured outfielder Rick Ankiel is scheduled to play at Triple-A Syracuse tonight and could be back soon as he works his way into shape. With the injury updates out of the way, the Nationals now move forward with Opening Day in Nats Park vs the Reds. The game starts at 1:05 pm EDT. Fans are already filing into Nationals Park. Gio Gonzalez will be on the hill, and with the injuries, especially to Morse, the Nats' GM said today as MLB.com's Bill Ladson wrote, "... players such as Mark DeRosa, Roger Bernadina, Xavier Nady and Rick Ankiel must step up." Bad news this morning, the good news is that Opening Day in Nats Park is just ninety minutes away...