Anthony Rendon to start the season on DL

JUPITER, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams announced this morning that third baseman Anthony Rendon will begin the season on the disabled list. The news comes on the heels of Rendon's trip to Vail, Colo., yesterday for a third opinion on his ailing left knee. Dr. Steven Singleton concurred with Dr. James Andrews on a sprained left MCL for Rendon, the same diagnosis originally made three weeks ago when the injury occurred.

"It's an injury that's kind of (a) week-to-week type injury," said Williams. "When he's feeling better, then he can ramp his baseball activity. It does react differently with everybody and we just have to see. It was good news in that we didn't see anything further than we originally saw."

"A sprain is a stretch of the ligament. It has to calm down. It has to make sure that we get the pain out of there so he can do his full baseball activity. But until that happens, you just don't do anything."

When Rendon is able to get back on the field, it most likely won't be in the majors due to the rehab process associated with this type of injury.

"He's missed so much time that it'll be a fairly lengthy one, I'm sure, to get him back in shape," said Williams. "The last thing we want to do is get him back from this and then not be fully in shape to play and have something else happen."

"The doctors are confident that there's no long-term issue here. It's just making sure he's better before he gets back out there. And if you don't and he aggravates it and it stays with him."

Williams expects Rendon to travel with the team to D.C. to be with the Nats for opening day festivities. Injured outfielders Jayson Werth and Denard Span will be at Nats Park on Monday, as well.

Werth will play in another minor league game today and take at least three at-bats, but his availability to actually play against the Mets is highly doubtful as he continues his rehabiliation from January surgery on his right shoulder.

"As of right now, we don't think that he's going to be available for opening day," said Williams. "If he gets to the point where he says, 'I'm good to go,' we trust him to let us know the truth. But as of right now, if we were to start today, he would not be on the opening day roster."