Desmond returns, Werth heads out

After five days out of the Nationals' starting lineup because of a sore oblique, Ian Desmond is back in there today. Desmond will start at short and hit in his normal No. 6 spot in the lineup for tonight's series opener against the Braves. That is, of course, if we play at all. The tarp is on the field and a light rain is currently falling at Nats Park. They're calling for showers pretty much all night, but with these two teams already scheduled to play a doubleheader tomorrow, they'll do their best to get tonight's game in. Jayson Werth will begin his rehab assignment with Single-A Potomac tonight - that is, of course, if they play at all. Werth has taken batting practice at Nats Park the last two days and was cleared to head out and start playing games. He has missed more than the last 10 weeks after breaking his wrist May 6. He'll be joined in Woodbridge by Chad Tracy, who will resume his rehab assignment. Tracy is working back from groin surgery. The 2-3-4 in Potomac's lineup isn't typical of a Single-A team; Tracy, Werth and Xavier Nady will hit in those spots in the P-Nats' order tonight. Here's the Nationals lineup against Braves righty Tommy Hanson: LF Steve Lombardozzi CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Jesus Flores P Stephen Strasburg