Both WTOP's Craig Heist and MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported this afternoon that Nationals' second baseman Danny Espinosa had received the best possible news from the Nats' doctors after an MRI on his shoulder. As multiple sources are now reporting, Washington's 25-year-old infielder, who'd feared a labrum tear in his left shoulder, learned today that it was a bruise of the capsule of his shoulder instead. The Nationals' infielder received a cortisone shot and though it was initially feared he would miss the three-game series with the LA Dodgers, reports this afternoon say he could be back in the Nats' lineup as soon as tomorrow:
Espinosa was worried he had torn labrum or rotator cuff. Says bone bruise is the best possible diagnosis.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) September 18, 2012
Espinosa extremely relieved. Initial thought was it could've been a labrum or rotator cuff tear. "This is the best news we could've gotten."
— Amanda Comak (@acomak) September 18, 2012
Espinosa says he felt something pop when he dove for a play at second during recent Marlins series. It hurt sleeping, changing clothes, etc.
— James Wagner (@JamesWagnerWP) September 18, 2012
The other good news this afternoon is that Michael Morse, who'd sat recently with what an MRI revealed was a torn sheath and bone bruise in his left wrist, is back in the lineup tonight as he told reporters he would be this weekend. Morse hasn't played since September 11th. The Nats' outfielder hit in 12 of 44 ABs in September before he took himself out of the lineup when the pain in his wrist became too bad for him to keep playing. Barring any setbacks or issues in BP this afternoon, Morse should be in the lineup against LA's Aaron Harang tonight.
• Nats' Lineup:
#Nationals lineup vs. LAD - Werth 9, Harper 8, Zimmerman 5, LaRoche 3, Morse 7, Desmond 6, Suzuki 2, Lombardozzi 4, Zimmermann 1
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) September 18, 2012