(Sports Network) - The Washington Nationals were hoping to have all their
stars aligned tonight with the expected return of slugging third baseman Ryan
Zimmerman, but Jayson Werth's broken left wrist spoiled that opportunity.
The National League East-leading Nationals will begin life without Werth for
about 12 weeks tonight in the opener of a three-game series against the
Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The Nationals will also visit Cincinnati for
three games on the trek and lost Werth in Sunday's 9-3 defeat to Philadelphia.
Werth came down awkwardly on the wrist trying to make a sliding catch in right
field during the sixth inning, and exited the game holding his left arm. Werth
underwent surgery on Monday to repair the wrist and was placed on the disabled
list with expectations of him missing a few months. Werth, who broke the same
wrist back in 2005 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is hitting .276 with three
home runs and 12 RBI this season.
Nationals manager Davey Johnson will most likely use Xavier Nady and Roger
Bernadina in left field, and move rookie phenom Bryce Harper to right field
until Werth is healthy enough to return. Stephen Lombardozzi and Chad Tracy
could also see action in the outfield. Harper was just beaned in the back by
Phillies lefty Cole Hamels, resulting in Hamels' five-game suspension. Hamels
said he hit Harper intentionally and his punishment was revealed Monday.
Harper stole home to give Washington a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Sunday
before the Nationals' pitching staff struggled. Starter Jordan Zimmermann was
saddled with the loss and yielded three runs on seven hits and four walks over
six innings. Ryan Perry was later hammered in relief, as he surrendered six
runs and five hits in just two-thirds of an inning.
"I didn't feel too good tonight and my stuff definitely wasn't there," said
Zimmermann.
Ian Desmond finished with two hits and an RBI, while Bernadina drove in a run
for the Nationals, who went 4-2 on the homestand and had a four-game winning
streak come to an end. Meanwhile, Zimmerman hasn't played since April 20
versus Miami because of right shoulder inflammation and was batting .224 with
a home run and seven RBI at the time. The Nationals are 7-5 without him and
could also get first baseman Adam LaRoche back in the lineup. LaRoche has been
bothered by a bruised right abdominal muscle and is hitting .311 with four
homers and 17 runs batted in.
"I'm going to push it a little bit more, and [I'm] still holding out [hope
that I'll play on] Tuesday," LaRoche said on the club's website.
Edwin Jackson will take the mound for Washington tonight and he is 0-1 in his
last three starts with back-to-back no-decisions. Jackson allowed four runs
and a season-high eight hits in last Wednesday's 5-4 win versus Arizona, one
start after tossing 6 2/3 shutout innings in a no-decision at San Diego. He is
1-1 with a 3.69 earned run average in five starts overall.
Jackson has yet to lose to Pittsburgh in five career starts, going 4-0 with a
3.13 ERA. The right-hander has no record and a 2.31 ERA in two road starts
this season.
The Pirates will continue a nine-game homestand Tuesday and lost two of three
matchups with the Reds over the weekend to kick off the residency. They were
held to three hits in Sunday's 5-0 blanking, as Charlie Morton handled
pitching duties and was roughed up for five runs -- four earned -- and seven
hits, including two home runs, in six innings to take the loss.
Jose Tabata, Neil Walker and Nate McLouth each had a hit for the Pirates, who
have dropped four of their last six games.
"I saw some big swings up there," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "[The
Reds] have a club that can take some big swings and do some damage. We don't
have that type of club. When we start swinging big, we're working to the other
team's advantage."
Hurdle's club will also host Houston on the homestand. Taking the mound for
the Buccos tonight will be veteran A.J. Burnett. Burnett was hammered in last
Wednesday's 12-3 loss at St. Louis in which he permitted 12 runs and 12 hits
in 2 2/3 innings. Burnett had a 1.38 earned run average over his first two
starts, but is now 1-2 with an 8.04 ERA in three starts overall.
"My only problem [against the Cardinals] was being up," Burnett told the
team's website. "I wasn't able to get to the bullpen fast enough, to make
adjustments and get back down [in the strike zone] where I belong."
The righty is 7-3 with a 3.42 ERA in 14 career games (13 starts) against the
Nationals.
Pittsburgh and Washington split eight meetings a year ago.
The Sports Network