Zimmerman "happy to be back," Martinez wants Taylor to play every day

DETROIT - The Nationals reinstated veteran first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the injured list in time for their series opener here tonight against the Tigers. Zimmerman has been out since April 28, missing 53 games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

Zimmerman played in five rehab games from June 21-26 with Double-A Harrisburg, where he hit .188 in 16 at-bats. But more importantly, he ramped up to a full nine innings to see how his right heel would feel after that much standing up on-field time.

"Everything went good. Happy to be back," Zimmerman said while sitting down in front of his locker at Comerica Park. "To feel as good as I felt, the rest of my body and the way I feel now, to this much time for basically a right heel is tough."

Zimmerman said last week that he stills feels discomfort in the heel after games, but it is manageable.

It's still gets sore running. I'm not really fast anyway," he said. "But I usually take pride in my baserunning that I can kind of sneak some first-and-thirds in there. I'm not saying I can't do that, (but) it's definitely a little slower than normal. But as far as fielding and stuff, everything has been great."

Zimmerman is in the starting lineup tonight as the designated hitter. Howie Kendrick is starting at first base. Matt Adams, who started at first base in Miami, has been on a hit streak, with six homers in his last 11 games.

Is this a good problem for manager Davey Martinez to have with Zimmerman returning? Or will the skipper be forced to bench a player who is hot for the veteran who has 15 years of experience?

"We've had these conversations throughout this whole process and (Zimmerman) gets it," Martinez said. "The big thing is to keep him healthy. I told him: 'You get back, we'll find ways to get you days off. I got to play Matty, I want to play Howie. We'll rotate you guys.' But the biggest thing is keep him healthy, keep him on the field, so he can help us."

Zimmerman is in agreement that he doesn't want to interfere with the hot streak. Play the player that gives the Nationals the best chance to win that day against that pitcher.

"How ever Davey wants to use me, Matt, Howie, I just want to win games," Zimmerman said. "That's the point where I'm at. They've been doing an awesome job. Just happy to be part of that and contribute any way I can. You guys know me, I'm not going to demand anything. Just happy to be back. Happy to be healthy, happy to contribute any way I can. I like to think of it as just another weapon we have now that can help us win games. Up here, that's the ultimate goal."

Martinez said he will decide after tonight's game where to put Zimmerman in the lineup for Saturday and Sunday. Martinez believes Zimmerman could play every day if he had to.

"Absolutely, I can't see how he wouldn't," Martinez said. "Knowing Ryan for a while - and I watched him play for a long time - he's the kind of guy who could carry you for a month and a half, two months. So hopefully he's just another spark in our lineup and he can come here and help us win."

Following the Nationals series with the Tigers, they will not be able to employ the designated hitter again until July 16-17 at Baltimore. Would Martinez put Zimmerman back into the lineup as his starting first baseman starting Tuesday at home against Miami?

"We hope that he comes back ... because he's the kind of guy that can carry us," Martinez said. "He comes back and starts swinging the bat and is a good defender, so we'll just have to play it out and see what happens. But the biggest thing, like I said, is get him out there, get him feeling comfortable, get him at-bats and then we'll see how things work out."

To make room for Zimmerman's return, the Nationals optioned center fielder Michael A. Taylor to Double-A Harrisburg.

"For me, it's about getting him the opportunity to get at-bats and play every day," Martinez said. "He needs to play every day. The thing I like about (Gerardo) Parra, he's a veteran guy, he knows how to come off the bench, he's always ready, he's always in tune.

"We just need Michael to go play because if any one of these everyday guys gets hurt, he needs to step up here and come up and jump right in. So it was just about getting him everyday at-bats and getting him to swing the bat and just playing the game."