Washington Nationals reinstate Trea Turner from Injured List; place Aníbal Sánchez on 10-Day IL.

Out of action since April 2nd with a broken right index finger, Trea Turner was reinstated from the Injured List this afternoon in time for the start of Washington’s matchup against the Chicago Cubs in Nationals Park.

Turner, 25, injured the finger trying to bunt in his first at bat of his fourth game of the 2019 campaign.

Turner was out of action until earlier this week when he played two rehab games at High-A Potomac, going 1 for 8 with a walk and four Ks in nine plate appearances.

“He had four good at bats yesterday,” Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo told 106.7 the FAN in D.C.’s Sports Junkies on Wednesday, after the first of Turner’s two rehab games.

“He played the full nine innings at shortstop, made several plays in the field, made one really good backhanded play, jump-throw type of thing that he’s kind of famous for...”

Turner stayed in D.C. on Thursday, working out with the team and the resting to make sure he was good to go for the start of this weekend’s three-game set with Cubs.

“Today he’s going to be with us,” Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez said before the series finale with the New York Mets yesterday.

“He worked out this morning, we’re just going to give him a day and see how he feels tomorrow.”

Turner played in all 162 games in 2018, starting in 158, and he put up a .271/.344/.416 line, with 27 doubles, six triples, 19 home runs, and 43 stolen bases in 740 plate appearances, over which he was worth 4.8 fWAR.

In order to make room on the roster for Turner’s return, the Nationals, the Nationals optioned Wilmer Difo to Triple-A Fresno.

In an additional pair of moves the Nats placed Aníbal Sánchez on the 10-Day IL (left hamstring strain) and recalled right-handed Kyle McGowin from Triple-A.