Depth getting tested once again

MIAMI - It doesn't seem like it was too long ago that we were talking about how the Nationals were finally healthy, and possessed a deep lineup that was torturous to opposing pitchers from one through eight in the order. On this road trip, however, that depth has been tested yet again. Ryan Zimmerman landed on the disabled list with a severe hamstring injury a week ago, and Jayson Werth is currently battling a sprained right ankle. Werth pinch-hit in the ninth inning of last night's game, but manager Matt Williams said afterward that Werth's ankle was still sore, and he'd have to be evaluated this morning to see whether he can get back into the lineup for the series finale against the Marlins. Last night, with both Zimmerman and Werth out, the Nats had a couple of chances early, including one where they loaded the bases with nobody out in the second inning, but were unable to push anything across. In that second-inning situation, Danny Espinosa struck out with nobody down, Nate McLouth lined out to third and Stephen Strasburg grounded out to end the threat. A week ago, Wilson Ramos was hitting eighth. Yesterday, because of the injuries, Ramos was back up to the cleanup spot in the order, with Bryce Harper and Ian Desmond also getting bumped up. Espinosa (.212 average) and McLouth (.175) have struggled to get going offensively, but the Nats continue to have faith in those two and their other bench players, who will be counted on with Zimmerman and Werth ailing. "Obviously those guys (Zimmerman and Werth) are really good, and this is no discredit to them, but that guy on the mound (Henderson Alvarez) is pretty good, too," Desmond said last night. "I believe, and I think we all believe, that the guys that we have, whoever, one through nine every day gives us a really good chance to win. We have a really deep roster. That guy just pitched a really good game today." The last turn through the rotation, Nats starters have worked a total of 35 innings (with each starter going seven) and allowed a total of just five runs. In those five games, the Nats are 2-3. Since Zimmerman has gone down, the Nats are 2-4. With Zimmerman out for a matter of weeks, the question now is whether the Nats will stick with the current group that they have. The non-waiver trade deadline is now tomorrow afternoon, and general manager Mike Rizzo needs to weigh his options, knowing that Zimmerman likely won't be returning until September. Does he add another bat, a second or third baseman who can slide into the starting lineup on an everyday basis? Does he add a reserve, someone to bolster the bench and give Williams another option to work into the mix? We'll have to wait and see. But for now, the Nats are taking the positive view on this recent stretch toward the end of the road trip. "It's good that our pitchers are going out there, our starters, and giving us a chance every night to win," Williams said. "Run support has been there, I think. (Monday night) we scored six. It's not a question of that. It's a question of things not going the right way right now. We can change that tomorrow, though, and come ready to play."