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Nationals' Denard Span expects to return from DL tomorrow according to report

According to a report by MLB.com's Bill Ladson, Washington Nationals' center fielder Denard Span is set to return from the DL tomorrow after more than a month dealing with a lower back issue and back spasms.

By Patrick Reddington
Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Matt Williams was asked, when he spoke to reporters after Sunday's 9-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, when center fielder and leadoff man Denard Span was expected to rejoin the Washington Nationals?

"I don't know," Wiliams said. "He played today. He had three at bats, and out of the game. Day game today, so a quick turn-around. We'll evaluate him after today and as he prepares for tomorrow and see where he's at."

Through six games on his rehab assignment, the 31-year-old, eight-year veteran, who landed on the DL with lower back spams, is 7 for 17 with a home run, three walks and one stolen base.

According to a report by MLB.com's Bill Ladson this afternoon, Span is expected to come off the DL tomorrow:

Span has been out of the major league lineup since July 6th, when he decided that the back spasms that had been bothering him for a month were too much to play through.

When he has been able to play, Span has produced, putting up a .304/.367/.430 line, 15 doubles, five home runs, and 11 stolen bases in 59 games and 265 PAs this season, in his third year with the Nationals.

"There's no place I'd rather be than battling it with my teammates," Span told reporters earlier this month, after a workout in the nation's capital.

"We've got ourselves a little fight with the Mets and I want to be there and try to do what I can to help uplift this team."

Will the Nationals finally (assuming Yunel Escobar comes back) have their expected everyday lineup back together for the series opener with the San Diego Padres? Will Michael Taylor move back into a bench role?

Will we see a Jayson Werth, Denard Span and Bryce Harper outfield tomorrow night?

Washington Post writer James Wagner suggested last night, that Taylor, 24, could probably use a day off, since he's played in 64 straight games:

Over that spa-- [ed. note - "Maybe 'stretch'...?"] Taylor has put up a .250/.295/.389 line with eight doubles, eight home runs, 15 walks, 17 Ks and 10 stolen bases in 262 plate appearances.

Any chance Werth goes to the bench with Taylor getting the bulk of the playing time? Or will Matt Williams give Span and Werth time off on occasion in order to get Taylor regular at bats the rest of the way?

You'll have to wait for the Nationals to make Span's return official for any news on the corresponding move if/when he does return.

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