Is Difo ready for call-up? How will Gonzalez react to all this down time?

Shortstop Wilmer Difo has now not played in two games in a row for Double-A Harrisburg. The team was in Richmond to play the Flying Squirrels for a series. Manager Matt Williams did say Wednesday that infielder Emmanuel Burriss has some experience in the outfield. Burriss has played two games in left field and two games in right field in his career.

As I have talked about in this space recently, if Denard Span (back spasms) is placed on the disabled list, the Nationals have some depth in the outfield where they could cover for him for the Orioles series. Difo would be an option also if infielder Yunel Escobar (left hamstring tightness) can't go in Baltimore either. But Williams did say Wednesday before the rainout against the Reds that Escobar was available for that game in a pinch-hit role.

But back to the Orioles series, because the game is in an American League park, the Nationals will have to employ a designated hitter, which will take one more bat off the bench, already stretched thin with the injuries to Span and Escobar. This, of course, is intensified because of the continued unavailability of Jayson Werth (wrist), Ryan Zimmerman (foot) and Anthony Rendon (quad).

So it appears that Difo is an insurance policy, and it would have been easy to have him ready because he has been close to the team these past few days between Ricmond and Baltimore along the I-95 corridor.

The rainout did help these injured players as well. It allowed Span and Escobar, as well as the other three starters, another two full days of rest without a major league game scheduled. This might make a disabled list stint for the pair less likely because they will also get another four days off for the All-Star break starting Monday. If Span does not play in Baltimore, as he stated Wednesday pregame with the "no chance" comment, that would mean he would have had the equivalent of 10 1/2 days off since his last meaningful game.

We also do not have the results of the back specialist examination of Span. As Williams talked about Wednesday, that examination plays the biggest role as to when Span plays again for the Nationals.

The Nationals announced Wednesday that left-hander Gio Gonzalez will start Friday's series opener against the Orioles. Due to rainouts in Philadelphia and D.C. against the Phillies and Reds, respectively, Gonzalez has pitched only eight innings since June 21. He admitted after his last start July 3 versus the Giants that he normally hasn't responded well to extra days off. He did that day, however, allowing just one run against San Francisco in seven innings. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to a Orioles team that is looking to change their fortunes after a rough week, losers of six of their last seven games. The Birds seem to always play well against opponents at home, especially recently versus the Nationals. Orioles are 26-16 at home this season.

Gonzalez is 1-4 with a 3.80 ERA in seven starts against the Orioles, 1-2 with a 3.12 ERA in four starts at Camden Yards. He has a career-worst 4.13 ERA when receiving six or more days of rest between starts.