Nats awaiting results after Ross undergoes MRI arthrogram

CINCINNATI - Right-hander Joe Ross, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right elbow sprain on Friday afternoon, has undergone an enhanced diagnostic procedure called an MRI arthrogram, where dye is injected into the joint to determine the severity of an injury.

News that Ross, who left Sunday's start after 3 1/3 innings with what was termed triceps tenderness, has a sprained elbow ligament could be a signal that the Nationals are preparing to be without him in the rotation for an extended period, a potentially crippling blow to both the team and the right-hander.

"It's not in the near future because Joe's had some problems in the past," manager Dusty Baker said. "Like I said, we'll see. I don't want to speculate on things and I don't want to think the worst (but) we're preparing it to be a longer situation."

Speaking with reporters this afternoon, general manager Mike Rizzo took a wait-and-see approach on Ross' condition.

"It's an elbow sprain," Rizzo said. "We gave him an MRI arthrogram. We're going to have it read and we'll take the next step and make the diagnosis and take it from there once we find out."

Asked if he was worried that Ross' problem was a longer-term issue, Rizzo said: "That's the reason we gave him the arthrogram. We'll see how serious it is and then we'll take the appropriate steps after that."

The arthrogram is often a step taken to confirm a possible torn elbow ligament, meaning Tommy John reconstructive surgery could be a possibility if it's determined that Ross has a ligament tear. Tommy John surgery could sideline Ross for the rest of this season and well into 2018, since the usual recovery time is about 12-18 months.

Ross said he's never experienced any elbow issues since high school - and that was just normal pain that most pitchers deal with - and admitted that he's worried about what the arthrogram will show.

"I'm definitely concerned," he said. "You never want to be hurt, in general. I'd like to be out there pitching, stay in the rotation. Whatever I can do to just try and get back. I guess it's not really up to me, kind of see where we're at."

Ross has previously experienced right shoulder problems that forced him to the disabled list last season. As for the original diagnosis of triceps tenderness, Ross said: "I guess it's all related. Usually, one thing leads to another, or if something's weak, you kind of compensate. But I was kind of feeling that tricep at first. Like I said, just waiting back to see what they say and get another opinion. For now, hopefully it's not as bad as it could be."

Ross was pulled from Sunday's start because of diminished velocity. He said the problem was cumulative, as opposed to something that he noticed after a single pitch.

"I definitely wouldn't say it was like one pitch, one big pop or anything like that," he said. "I feel like it maybe built up over a few games or something like that. But if definitely wasn't just one (pitch)."

An elbow issue is unfamiliar territory for the righty.

"So for it to be elbow-related is fairly new to me, which is weird for me, just trying to figure it out," he said. "I've talked to a few other guys that have had similar-ish issues, cause it's always been shoulder for me. I guess we'll see what they say."

Ross wasn't listed among the first four starting pitchers the Nationals will use out of the All-Star break, and Baker said the team won't need to cover Ross' usual spot in the rotation until Tuesday in Anaheim.

The Nationals could recall right-hander A.J. Cole, who has been a reliable rotation fill-in, from Triple-A Syracuse, where he's 4-3 with a 6.27 ERA in 13 starts, or turn to ex-National right-hander Edwin Jackson, who recently signed a minor league deal and is pitching at Triple-A. In five games (four starts) with the Chiefs, Jackson is 2-0 with a 0.44 ERA. Cole is on the 40-man roster; Jackson is not, and the Nats would have to create a spot for him.

"I think we have some internal options that we're going to try first that we're comfortable with," Rizzo said when asked how the Nats would compensate for Ross' absence. "Then we'll evaluate it from there and see where we go."

While the Nationals await word on Ross' elbow, Jayson Werth has rejoined the team from West Palm Beach, where he was rehabilitating the injury to his left big toe that landed him on the DL in early June. Werth originally hurt his foot when he fouled a ball off it on June 3 in Oakland.

Baker had hoped that Werth would be ready for a minor league injury rehab assignment shortly after play resumed following the All-Star break, but those plans have been scuttled because Werth continues to experience pain in his left big toe.

"Well, we had a plan," Baker said. "It's just that his foot is not responding as we had hoped. So we had to make alternative plans now. He's worked so hard. He's just frustrated. He just can't put the pressure on it like he'd want to right now to play the full phase of baseball. Again, we just have to wait until that thing heals. We had no idea that it was going to be this long or as serious as it is. But I told you guys the worst injury I ever had was to my big toe and my thumb. Those injuries, they take longer to heal."