Span to see specialist regarding recurring back spasms

Nationals starters Denard Span and Yunel Escobar are not in Tuesday's lineup against the Reds. Span (back spasms) and Escobar (left hamstring tightness) left Monday's game early with injuries.

Manager Matt Williams had limited updates on both players as they underwent treatments today. Span went for an MRI this morning for his ailing back.

"No change really in that Yunel's hamstring's still tight, so they are working on him," Williams confirmed. "And then Denard went for an MRI this morning, we'll get the results later on today from what that shows and we'll go from there."

Any thought of putting them on the disabled list?

"No, not as of yet," Williams said. "We're waiting for the results, so we'll see what they show and go from there."

Span and Williams are of course concerned because the back issue continues to return despite constant treatment and massages.

"The fact that it's recurring is perplexing because most days he's fine," Williams said. "Yesterday he was fine until the rain delay happened. During the delay he went up to the training room, continued to stretch, had the trainers stretch him, stay hot, stay warm, and then it happened again.

"The fact that it's happening and continuing to happen is a concern because it happens. But most days there's no issue, he's stealing bases, he's playing center field and has no problem. But on occasion it just comes back on him. We're trying to get to the bottom of it."

"Feel a little sore today," Span said. "It's been very frustrating to say the least."

"It happened after my first at-bat, felt it kind of tighten up," Span continued. "Once the rain delay started, I tried to get it loose, actually went back out there and played defense, and it didn't feel good. So I took myself out."

Span said the pain in his back usually returns after having no problems the first few days following treatment and rest.

"Usually first two, three, four days it feels pretty good, and then day five it starts to nag a little bit," Span said. "Seems like by day six, that's when it locks up on me."

The team will have the MRI results later on, most likely during postgame. If the findings are a problem, Span could go on the disabled list and then return the first week the team returns from the All-Star break. They play the Mets July 20-22.

"I think we're going to go see a specialist, so that's the latest," Span said. "Hopefully, he'll be able to explain more than what I know what's going on.

"I want to know what the root of the problem is so we can take the correct course of action and correct the problem."

Williams said the injuries to other starters, including Jayson Werth (wrist) and Anthony Rendon (left quad strain), appear to be getting better at a solid clip.

"Good news is we got some guys that are on the mend, and that's a positive for us," Williams said. "Timeframes we don't know about, but they're making progress and good progress at that."

Williams had an update regarding right-handed reliever Aaron Barrett. He pitched yesterday for high Single-A Potomac in his second rehab assignment for a right biceps strain, similar to his first game last week where he started the game.

"The same, (he went) one inning, 14 pitches," Williams said. "So he'll have today, and then we'll look at the back-to-back in the next two days."