Morse to head to Viera on Monday (the run of Ks continues)

After taking some swings off a tee and doing more throwing from about 50-60 feet today, Michael Morse has taken another step toward participating in games of some kind. Those games might come as soon as Monday. Manager Davey Johnson said today that Morse will head down to the Nationals' complex in Viera, Fla., when the Nats begin their road trip on Monday. Morse will get lots of at-bats in extended spring training games, building up his timing and allowing him to keep working back from the strained lat muscle injury that has caused him to miss every regular season game to this point. The Nats' left fielder is still likely to undergo a MRI before he leaves for Florida to check on the status of his lat. After Morse has gotten some time in Viera, he'll go on a rehab assignment where he will serve as a DH and play left field. Not at the same time. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be allowed. Update: The Nationals struck out 14 times last night. They've already gone down on strikes seven times through four innings tonight. The O's lead the Nats 1-0 as we go to the bottom of the fifth, with Jake Arrieta just slightly outpitching Edwin Jackson. Jackson allowed a run in the first on an Adam Jones RBI single off Jackson's foot, but since then, he's been outstanding, retiring 13 of the last 14 he's faced. He just isn't getting any support, as Nationals hitters have managed just three hits through four innings. They had a shot to tie the game in the second when Bryce Harper singled and took second on a Robert Andino error, and then moved to third on a Danny Espinosa fly ball. But the lack of situational hitting continued as Rick Ankiel struck out and Jesus Flores flew out to center to strand Harper at third.