The Washington Nationals are chasing the Atlanta Braves at the top of the National League East, but it looks like they’ll have to continue their climb for the next couple of weeks without starting outfielder Jayson Werth.
Nationals beat writer Dan Kolko reported on Twitter that Werth is likely headed to the disabled list soon with a hamstring issue that has bugged him for the majority of the month of May:
Werth hasn’t played since May 2, when he left Washington’s game against Atlanta after five innings with hamstring tightness.
Washington Times reporter Amanda Comak helped confirm the news (via Twitter) and had a look at some of the prospects the Nats might use to fill Werth‘s spot while he fully recovers from the leg ailment on the DL:
An initial MRI scan proved to be negative earlier in the week (h/t Washington Post), but the news on Werth on Friday did not give team doctors enough to believe he would be ready to return to Davey Johnson’s lineup in the next week or so.
On the season, Werth is hitting .260 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 27 games.
After signing a massive seven-year, $126 million contract in the winter of 2010 (h/t Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports), Werth was expected to help the Nationals start contending again in the NL East.
Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg have done more to accomplish that feat than the pricey Werth, but the 33-year-old slugger still has a knack for flair—including hitting a walk-off home run to help the Nationals win Game 4 of the 2012 NLDS.
A career .267 hitter with 149 career home runs, Werth is the kind of veteran presence who has helped these Nationals crawl out of the basement and into the national conversation on a weekly basis. He’s had some health concerns in parts of three seasons in D.C., though, forcing the Nats to monitor his health more than some would like.
His latest setback won’t keep the Nationals from staying the course in the early part of the season, and hopefully this trip to the DL will help Werth get fully healthy before returning to his post in right field for good.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com