Rendon on track to return to lineup Tuesday (game tied 2-2)

MILWAUKEE - The first key injured member of the Nationals lineup is on the verge of returning to the active roster.

Anthony Rendon is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list Tuesday, and manager Davey Martinez said the club is preparing for its star third baseman to be activated for the second game of this week's series against the Brewers.

"He's going to hit today in the cage," Martinez said. "And then hopefully barring no setbacks, he should be ready tomorrow."

Rendon, who hasn't played since he took a pitch off his left elbow April 20 in Miami, has taken full rounds of batting practice each of the last two days. Under normal circumstances, the Nationals might have him go on a brief rehab assignment with a minor league affiliate. But given the current state of the team's injury decimated lineup, they can't afford to wait any longer, provided Rendon's elbow is healed.

"With Anthony, it's not just one guy," Martinez said. "It's a guy that's in the middle of our lineup. And don't forget his defense. His defense is utterly important for us. He plays unbelievable defense at third base. I've said this before: He's a guy that our lineup revolves around. So getting him back will be huge."

Approached by reporters in the visitors' clubhouse at Miller Park today, Rendon at first jokingly said he'd be back by "the All-Star break," then walked away saying: "I'm ready. Let's go."

Rendon went out to play catch with Michael A. Taylor, an encouraging sign for the outfielder, who jammed his left wrist trying to make a diving catch Saturday and has been out of the lineup since. Taylor remains on the active roster, and Martinez described his status as "day-to-day."

Matt Adams, meanwhile, appears to have suffered a less significant injury than initially feared when he jammed his left shoulder into first base diving to record an out Saturday night. An MRI taken Sunday in Philadelphia revealed only a shoulder strain, according to Martinez.

"We got pretty lucky with that one, as well," the manager said. "As soon as he can get range of motion, he'll start to swing again and get back into baseball. And hopefully we get him back soon."

Update: It's been an eventful start to this game. The sleep-deprived Nats jumped on the board in the top of the first thanks to Adam Eaton's single and Howie Kendrick's two-run homer. But given a 2-0 lead, Max Scherzer gave it back within the first two innings. Mike Moustakas' two-out RBI single brought home one run in the first, then another misplay by Carter Kieboom at shortstop allowed another run to score in the second. Scherzer's defense didn't help him, but he has also given up several bullets so far. And his pitch count is up to 50 already on a night when the Nats need length out of him. We'll see how he recovers. In the meantime, it's already 2-2 after two.

Update II: It's been a couple of days since the Nationals suffered multiple injuries in one game, so you knew it was bound to happen again. Sure enough, Yan Gomes and Andrew Stevenson are both out of this game. Gomes was hit by a pitch just above the left elbow, and though he stayed in the game for another inning, he had to be replaced by Kurt Suzuki. Stevenson departed with what the Nationals called "back spasms." He appeared uncomfortable on a fourth-inning swing, but he also dove headfirst into first base in the second inning and landed hard on the ground and bag. You wonder if that precipitated this. So now Taylor, who was out of the lineup two days after jamming his wrist, is playing center field because the Nats have no more outfielders. What a season this has turned into. It's still 2-2 in the fifth, by the way.