Washington Nationals' Left-Hander Sean Burnett Felt Elbow Tightness, Not Worried Though According To Reports.

29-year-old Washington Nationals' left-hander Sean Burnett came on with two outs in the eighth inning of last night's game with the Miami Marlins and retired the one batter he faced, Logan Morrison, to strand a runner and preserve the Nats' 5-1 lead. With the scoreless third of an inning's work, the reliever lowered his ERA to 1.97 on the season to go along with a 2.88 FIP, seven walks (1.97 BB/9) and 33 K's (9.28 K/9) in 39 games and 32.0 IP in his role as the team's late-inning left-hander and set-up man. After the Nationals' win, Davey Johnson spoke briefly about an issue the former Pittsburgh Pirates' 1st Round pick had been dealing with in his left elbow with Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) reporting on Twitter that the lefty, who had Tommy John surgery in 2005, "... had some tightness in his arm." The beat reporters in Miami covering the Nationals' four-game series with the Marlins, including the WaPost's Mr. Kilgore, followed up on that report this afternoon:

Burnett, who had, TJ early in his career, said he's felt some elbow tightness for 6 weeks or so. Spoke up last night. Hopes to pitch tonight

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) July 14, 2012

Burnett's had Tommy John surgery years back, but doesn't think this tightness is serious: "Hopefully there's no story."

— Nathan Fenno (@nathanfenno) July 14, 2012

Sean Burnett says he's been dealing with elbow tightness for 6 weeks but isn't worried: "I feel fine pitching."

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) July 14, 2012

• Update: 5:30 pm EDT - Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore tweeted the following after speaking to Davey Johnson before tonight's game:

Despite Burnett feeling unconcerned, Davey says DL is a "big consideration." Too valuable to take a chance, he says.

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) July 14, 2012