Injuries leave streaky Nats confused

Who are these Washington Nationals? Are they the team that baffled baseball coming out of the gates with a 7-13 mark in their first 20 games and have now stumbled to a 2-8 record in their last 10? What happened to those guys in May that won 18 of the 27 games?

"I don't know, man," Denard Span said. "We've been streaky. Obviously this year, we're just going through a rough patch. Can't get anything going offensively. A lot of it's I think we're banged up as well. We've got a lot of guys giving it their all. We've just got to try to weather the storm, really, stay in the thick of things until everybody gets full strength I guess."

Span is the latest of the Nationals to leave manager Matt Williams concerned after sudden back spasms forced the center fielder out of yesterday's game just before the start of the eighth inning. Span gets a day to rest in New York today before the Nats begin a two-game set with the Yankees tomorrow night.

Obviously, the Nationals are already thin in the outfield with Jayson Werth on the disabled list as he recovers from a fractured left wrist. If Span is unable to go, it would leave Bryce Harper, Michael A. Taylor, Tyler Moore and Clint Robinson as the only healthy outfielders. Short on numbers, Williams sent Danny Espinosa to left field for the final two innings yesterday to fill in for Span.

The Nationals would most likely look to the minors for outfield support if Span's back spasms don't calm down. Matt den Dekker is capable of playing all three outfield positions and was recalled earlier in the week as the 26th man for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader before heading back to Triple-A Syracuse.

During this recent 2-8 tumble, the Nationals are batting just .232 as a team with only five homers while being outscored 53-27.

"There are no excuses to be made, but April wasn't kind to us in regard to injury," Williams said. "It was a little bit of a struggle early on. When we got everybody back, it started to roll for us pretty good. That being said, there are no excuses period. We've got to play and win games and get to where we want to get to."

The injuries have left the Nationals short-handed since opening day. Span and Werth began the season on the disabled list, and Werth is back now for an extended stay. Ryan Zimmerman has been hampered by plantar fasciitis for over a month and his production at the plate has plummeted considerably. Groin, wrist and hand issues have caused Yunel Escobar to miss six games. Two of Williams' prized starters are currently on the DL. Not to mention the effects the bullpen has felt with the loss of right-hander Craig Stammen for the season.

Williams hopes he'll heave Doug Fister and Stephen Strasburg back in the near future. Fister was able to make his first minor league rehab start yesterday since landing on the DL with right forearm tightness. In 3 2/3 innings for Syracuse, Fister allowed two runs, one on a solo homer and the other on a wild pick-off attempt. He scattered seven hits, struck out six and walked none. 47 of Fister's 63 pitches were strikes.

Strasburg threw all of his pitches in a bullpen session on Saturday. Williams has not announced any plans yet on rehab starts for Strasburg.

Sammy Solis also pitched for the first time yesterday for Double-A Harrisburg. The left-hander gave up three runs on five hits as he pitched just the first inning while recovering from inflammation in his throwing shoulder.