Nationals expected to get Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman back today

Slowly but surely the Washington Nationals are getting their injured everyday players back from their respective rehab assignments. There were multiple reports on Monday that Jayson Werth was on his way to Miami to join the Nationals for the start of their three-game set with the Miami Marlins.

Early this morning, MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported that the Nats will be getting Ryan Zimmerman back too.

"Left fielder Jayson Werth and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman are expected to be activated from the disabled list, according to two baseball sources," Ladson wrote, while noting that, "[t]he Nationals have not confirmed the news."

The Nationals will, of course, have to make some moves to make room on the roster for Werth and Zimmerman, but they have yet to make any official announcement on either of the veterans returning to the majors.

Zimmerman played five games for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators on his rehab assignment, going 1 for 15. Werth split his time between High-A Potomac and Triple-A Syracuse, going 11 for 30 in nine games.

Anthony Rendon rejoined the Nationals this weekend. Denard Span is working toward a return though the 31-year-old outfielder's progress has seemed to be slow.

Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo told MLB Network Radio hosts Mike Ferrin and Mike Stanton last week that Strasburg could return before the end of the month.

The 27-year-old right-hander is scheduled to make his first rehab start tomorrow.

Rizzo also talked about getting through the injury issues and finally getting the expected everyday lineup on the field.

The players that have filled in for the Nationals have impressed the GM, however. Rizzo was asked about Michael Taylor's performance when he wasn't expected to get as many at bats as he has when the season began, but the Nats' general manager said it's not just Taylor who's had more at bats than expected. Tyler Moore, Clint Robinson and others have filled in admirably while the Nationals have worked to get healthy.

"We're very surprised by the at bats that a lot of guys are getting, but they've kept us afloat," Rizzo said.

Nats News: Werth set to return; Clippard to Mets?!

Photo © Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

"What are we, eight or nine games above .500. We've got a couple game lead in the NL East and I couldn't be happier and prouder of the guys that we have and we feel that as guys come back and as we start getting healthier, we're going to get ourselves in a rhythm and a routine with a semblance of a regular lineup in there and with the starting pitching that we have and the bullpen that we have we feel that we can go on a run and play well down the stretch."

"Hopefully some day we'll get the lineup that I had on the blackboard here in the office in January on the field," Rizzo said at another point in the interview.

The Nationals, when/if the official announcements on Werth and Zimmerman are made today, will take another step closer to having their projected lineup back together.