Rogers will get another start, Cruz scratched from lineup

ATLANTA – Not that there was any reason to question it following Monday night’s performance, but Josh Rogers will remain in the Nationals rotation for the time being, lined up to make another start this weekend in Pittsburgh.

Summoned from Triple-A Rochester to take the No. 5 spot in the Nats rotation after Aníbal Sánchez came down with a neck injury prior to opening day, Rogers put together the best outing by any of the club’s starters to date, holding the Braves to one run on two hits over 5 1/3 innings and setting the tone for what became an 11-2 blowout victory.

Sánchez, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a cervical nerve impingement, won’t be eligible to return until April 18. So that leaves the Nationals needing someone to take his next turn through the rotation, which should be Saturday night against the Pirates.

“I don’t think (Sánchez) will be ready at all for his next start,” manager Davey Martinez said. “As of right now, Josh will start in his place.”

Sánchez, who is traveling with the team on this road trip, began some simulated throwing today and could be back throwing a ball as soon as Wednesday. There’s no timetable yet for his return, but the 38-year-old will need to build his arm back up once he’s cleared.

“I saw him in the gym. He worked out, he’s feeling better,” Martinez said. “He started doing some throwing without a ball, going through his motion. We’ll see how he feels after that tomorrow. But so far, so good. He said he’s moving around way better today.”

* Nelson Cruz was a late scratch from tonight’s lineup. The Nationals didn’t immediately provide a reason for the change, but the 41-year-old was on the field during afternoon workouts and took batting practice with his teammates.

Yadiel Hernandez, who originally was batting sixth and starting in left field, will now hit cleanup and serve as DH. Lane Thomas, who was supposed to come off the bench tonight, will now start in left field and bat seventh.

This is the first game Cruz has missed so far this season. He enters the night 4-for-20 with one homer and three RBIs.

* Alcides Escobar isn’t in tonight’s lineup, with Lucius Fox getting his second opportunity to start at shortstop in three days. While others from the lower half of the Nationals batting order have started figuring out their swings the last few days, Escobar is still stuck in an early season funk.

The veteran infielder is just 1-for-15 at the plate, but more concerning are his team-high seven strikeouts. That’s out of the ordinary for a guy normally known for his ability to make contact, no matter a pitch’s location.

“He’s flying open fairly early, and he’s chasing a lot,” Martinez said. “He’s a guy that has tremendous bat-to-ball skills. He puts the ball in play. When he’s putting the ball in play now, he’s typically way out front. We’re trying to get him to stay back, we’re trying to get him more upright. … He has to work down to the ball, not away from the ball, and that’s kind of what he’s doing right now.”