Washington Nationals: Injury updates on Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy, Dusty Baker

Howie Kendrick left the series opener with the Miami Marlins in Washington, D.C. with a back issue.

“He said it flares up on him from time to time so we’ll see tomorrow,” Dusty Baker told reporters after the win over the Fish on Monday. “I was probably going to play [Adam Lind] out there against a right-hander [Vance Worley] anyway, and so I’m hoping that he’s okay later in the game. I told him to go in and get treatment and get ready for [Adam] Conley on Wednesday.”

Baker told reporters before Tuesday night’s matchup with the Marlins that Kendrick’s back was still a problem though he hoped the veteran utility man would be available tonight.

Baker met with reporters before the lineup for the second of four with the Marlins was announced, so he didn’t comment on Daniel Murphy’s absence until after the Nats’ 7-3 loss.

“Murph, his hip was bothering him some,” Baker explained, “he’s played a lot, and so we thought it would be better for us to skip a day then we’ll see how he is tomorrow.”

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Murphy was able to make a pinch hit appearance, lining out to short, so that’s probably a good sign. Murphy went 0 for 3 on Monday vs Miami, but the Nationals’ 32-year-old infielder was 7 for 18 with two doubles and two home runs on the recently-completed road trip before the 0-for on Monday left him with a .332/.385/.576 line on the year.

Unfortunately for the Nationals, and their 68-year-old skipper, the injury issues which have plagued the Nats this season extended beyond the 40-Man Roster on Tuesday.

Baker was clearly hobbled during the game in Nationals Park. Mike Maddux went out to make pitching changes, and Baker barely made it to the top steps of the dugout when he had to discuss a play with the umpires at one point.

The issue?

“My knee locked up on me,” Baker said. “So I’m going to go get it checked out and I’ll be fine tomorrow.”