Rendon: "I guess it's just not my year health-wise"; Espinosa returns

Anthony Rendon saw his first game action in nearly a month last night when he began a minor league rehab assignment at Single-A Potomac. The Nationals decided to start Rendon at third base so it would be easier on his strained left quad, which landed him on the 15-day disabled list on June 25.

The 25-year-old went 2-for-2, smacking a double in the first inning and legging out an infield single in the third before exiting the game.

"It's only been three innings in, but (for) the most part it feels fine right now," Rendon said. "I had one ball to my left and felt good. I didn't die and I'm here the next day, so a step in the right direction."

Rendon, who finished fifth in the National League MVP vote last year, has only played 18 games this season. He missed the first 53 games of 2015 with a sprained left MCL and then a strained left oblique. When he returned to the lineup, Rendon batted .290/.375/.362 with five doubles and nine RBIs before the setback.

"If I knew what was causing it, I probably wouldn't be getting injured, especially this year," Rendon said. "I feel like I haven't changed my routine over the last couple years, and I guess it's just not my year health-wise."

Danny Espinosa has provided enormous support at both second base and third base in Rendon's absence this year. Yesterday, a bout of cramps in Espinosa's calves caused him to leave the game after diving for a ball in the second base hole in the ninth inning.

"I had been cramping in the sixth inning," Espinosa said. "Even when I got the base hit, I felt it when I was going down the line, it was tight. Then the following inning with the double off the wall, I went out for the double cut and kind of leaped for the bal, and I felt it grab. I don't know, I'm not sore today or anything, I just needed more fluid. Fifteen innings in cleats didn't help either, it isn't easy on your calves and it isn't easy on anything else. I feel fine today."

Espinosa returns to the lineup today, batting second and playing second base. He is 0-for-6 with two strikeouts in his career against Dodgers starter Zack Greinke.

"I'll probably take a couple of more IVs before the game to make sure I'm really, really hydrated," Espinosa said.