Jayson Werth's not in tonight's lineup. Continuing issues with his hamstring, which Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson said yesterday might be tied to dehydration related to a stomach virus, are keeping Werth on the sidelines. Now Bryce Harper's going to join Werth on the bench. When the Nats' lineup for the first game of three with the Chicago Cubs in D.C. was announced, Harper's name was noticeably absent. When the Nats' skipper spoke to reporters before today's game he told the press the reason that his 20-year-old three-hole hitter was sitting:
Bryce Harper out of lineup tonight after needing surgery on an ingrown toenail on right foot. #nats hoping only a day before he's back.
— Amanda Comak (@acomak) May 10, 2013
Bryce Harper, meanwhile, not in lineup tonight after having procedure to remove ingrown toenail.
— Mark Zuckerman (@ZuckermanCSN) May 10, 2013
Bryce Harper also had an operation on his right foot to fix an ingrown toenail. Won't play today. Davey says he'll likely return tomorrow.
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) May 10, 2013
So, two-thirds of the Nats' Opening Day outfield is on the bench for the series opener with the Cubbies. Here's the Nationals' lineup for tonight's game:
#Nationals lineup vs. CHI: Span 8, Bernadina 9, Zimmerman 5, LaRoche 3, Desmond 6, Espinosa 4, Moore 7, Suzuki 2, Detwiler 1
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) May 10, 2013
Tyler Moore, Denard Span and the Shark left-to-right around the outfield. Ross "Ground Ball" Detwiler on the mound. The Nats' 27-year-old left-hander takes the hill for the seventh time in 2013. After six starts, Detwiler's (1-3) with a 2.50 ERA, 3.72 FIP, eight walks (2.00 BB/9) and 21 Ks (5.25 K/9) in 36.0 IP. In three career starts against the Cubs, the Nats' '07 1st Round pick is (2-1) with a 2.60 ERA, 5 BB (2.60 BB/9), 9 Ks (4.67 K/9) and a 1.15 WHIP in 17.1 IP.
After talking to Davey Johnson about the lineup, reporters on the scene apparently spoke to D.C. GM Mike Rizzo as well, and the Nats' general manager reportedly said that Jayson Werth might be headed to the DL with a "slight" strain of his hamstring:
#nats GM Mike Rizzo said Jayson Werth is likely headed to DL with a vet slight strain of his hamstring. Would be eligible to return 5/18
— Amanda Comak (@acomak) May 10, 2013
Rizzo says Werth has "very slight strain" of hamstring. Believes he'll come off DL when eligible, May 18.
— Mark Zuckerman (@ZuckermanCSN) May 10, 2013
Mike Rizzo says Werth's hamstring injury is "slight strain" & believes dehydration at cause. Expected to come off DL when eligible on May 18
— James Wagner (@JamesWagnerWP) May 10, 2013
More info when it's available...