Denard Span out tonight after experiencing surgery-related soreness

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Center fielder Denard Span chose to leave last night's game in the sixth inning after experiencing abdominal discomfort.

"Just around the surgery site just felt a little sore," Span said. "Just follow my intuition, basically."

Span underwent hernia surgery in December and core muscle surgery on March 9. Nationals manager Matt Williams has taken Span out of the lineup for the second time since the 31-year-old returned from the disabled list on April 19.

"I would think that he'll be OK tomorrow, but we have to see," Williams said. "He needs a day. He's getting a lot of treatment and we'll get him ready for tomorrow hopefully."

Span was understandably disappointed at the timing of the setback, considering he's been on fire at the plate lately. In his last four games, Span is 7-for-18 with two homers, four doubles, five RBIs and seven runs scored.

"That's part of the reason why I'm sore," Span said. "I've been doing a lot of running lately. It just sucks to be feeling this especially as good as I've been feeling."

In fact, leading off the first last night against Mets starter Jacob deGrom, Span just missed homering for his third consecutive game by about two feet.

"Thought I had it and then the last minute it curled foul. Good swing," a smiling Span said.

The good sign is that Span is available tonight according to Williams.

"We'll get him in there in an emergency situation only tonight," Williams said. "If he's got a chance to pinch-hit and make the game for us then that's another option as well."

Recently recalled rookie Michael A. Taylor gets the start in center field, just as he did for the first two weeks of the season before Span was activated. Despite leaving the Nats for nine days when he was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, Taylor still remains among the Nats' leaders in several offensive categories. He's hitting .260 with two homers, three doubles and eight RBIs.

Taylor is also back in the leadoff spot where he started the season against the Mets. After using Taylor at the top of the order in the first seven games of the season, Williams replaced Taylor with third baseman Yunel Escobar. Williams spoke before the game on his reasoning for starting his lineup with Taylor tonight.

"First time out he had (Matt) Harvey, so he's faced him," Williams said. "It's speed at the top of the lineup. It's slotting Yunel back to a very comfortable position for him. It sets our lineup up. Not saying it's gonna, you know, matter against Matt Harvey, but it sets our lineup the way we want."

Taylor was 1-for-3 with two strikeouts against Harvey in the Nats' loss on April 9.