Denard Span could return tomorrow, Yunel Escobar to have MRI

Nationals manager Matt Williams revealed before today's game that infielder Yunel Escobar will undergo an MRI this afternoon on his strained groin. The injury occurred while legging out a ground ball to first base in the fifth inning of last night's 7-2 victory over the Phillies. Escobar pulled up lame at the bag and appeared to grab his left side before immediately leaving the game. He was in the clubhouse at Nats Park this morning.

"He said he felt OK," Williams said. "Every player is going to say that, of course, so we'll have the test done and we'll be able to read that and have some history on a strain like that or a tweak like that and be able to evaluate it."

Escobar missed three weeks in spring training due to a Grade 1 left oblique strain.

The injury forces Danny Espinosa's first career start at third base. Coincidentally, Williams began working him out at the position over the last two weeks of spring training while the team was trying to get Escobar acclimated to playing second base. Espinosa was able to get a handful of Grapefruit League starts at third and finished the game there last night after Escobar was removed.

"It's different than short or second, so there's adjustments that have to be made there," Williams said about Espinosa's transition to the hot corner. "But he's got some experience there. That was one of the reasons we did that in spring training, to make sure that he got some playing time over (there) in case we got in a situation. It's not something that he's never done. He's really good at catching the baseball, we know that. Positioning is key for him, making sure that he doesn't necessarily treat it like shortstop."

Infielder/outfielder Tyler Moore also took some precautionary grounders at third base before today's game and Williams indicated he could be used in an emergency situation there despite not having played the position since his days at Mississippi State.

Williams ruled out moving first baseman Ryan Zimmerman back across the diamond.

Center fielder Denard Span completed a successful three-game rehab assignment last night and is at Nats Park today for workouts. He could potentially be activated from the disabled list tomorrow.

"It's possible," said Williams. "It depends on how he feels." "Denard's focused on getting back and being productive when he does. He's cleared all the hurdles, that's for sure."

Span's return will mean Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and Williams will have to make a decision on center fielder Michael A. Taylor. The 24-year-old leads the team in total bases with 23 and is tied for the most RBIs with eight. Taylor's hitting .279 and has homered twice, including once to leadoff a game. He has struggled with off-speed pitches, striking out 16 times in 46 at-bats. He is a highly regarded prospect, not only in the Nats organization but in all of baseball. The Nats will have to determine whether his growth potential can be best reached at Triple-A Syracuse or coming off the bench in the big leagues.

"We'll evaluate it," Williams said. "We'd like it all for Mikey, but the question always becomes what's best for him. So we'll evaluate that. We'll sit, we'll discuss. Everybody certainly has an opinion on it. We look at these things and look at what's best for the young player first and foremost. What's best for him for his development and what's best for him for his future?"

There's no major progress report on third baseman Anthony Rendon as he continues to rehab his sprained left knee in Florida.

"What we don't want is to rush that situation and have a setback because then we're not in a good spot," Williams said. "So we want him full strength before we get him in games so he's free of mind to do. He's getting there."