Glover getting MRI on elbow today

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Koda Glover will get an MRI on his right elbow this afternoon, leaving the oft-injured reliever and the Nationals waiting anxiously for results that could determine whether this is a mere spring training bump or cause for the club to re-examine its bullpen plans.

Glover had to depart from his Grapefruit League debut Sunday afternoon after walking three consecutive Cardinals batters and complaining of elbow tightness. He threw only 10 of his 22 pitches for strikes and uncorked one wild pitch that sailed behind a batter's legs.

The 25-year-old reliever spent much of the last two seasons dealing with ongoing shoulder troubles. He also had Tommy John surgery in college. But he reported for spring training feeling strong and as recently as Friday spoke convincingly about an offseason throwing program he believed put him in position to stay healthy all season.

"He's worked really hard," manager Davey Martinez said. "Hopefully this is a minor setback for him. But we'll know more hopefully this afternoon or tomorrow morning."

Martinez spoke with Glover afterwards and tried to assuage the right-hander's concern.

"He was a little frustrated yesterday, yeah," Martinez said. "I told him: 'Take it easy. Don't get all riled up now. Let's see what's going on and then we'll go from there.'"

Even in a best-case scenario, the Nationals probably would have to give Glover several days off before having him start up his throwing program again. If it's more serious than that, his status for opening day would be in jeopardy.

When Glover had to be shut down after his first bullpen session last spring with shoulder pain, the Nationals quickly moved to sign 40-year-old reliever Joaquin Benoit. Benoit wound up dealing with his own shoulder injury and never pitched in a game.

Glover isn't guaranteed to make the Nationals opening day bullpen, but he's a preferred choice to be among the seven-man crew that breaks camp. If he's unable to pitch in the end, the Nats would have to ask for more from a group of right-handers that includes Justin Miller, Wander Suero, Jimmy Cordero and non-roster invitee J.J. Hoover.

Whether they would feel the need to go outside and acquire another arm as they did last spring may depend on the results of Glover's MRI.

"Hopefully, everything comes out well," Martinez said. "But I do feel like with the guys we have in camp, we have guys that can potentially do the job. I like Hoover. He's doing well. Obviously we have Miller, Suero, Cordero. I like all those guys. We'll see what happens after the MRI and go from there."