Romero throwing again after injection for forearm tightness

Enny Romero was back throwing on the field at Nationals Park this afternoon, cleared to begin ramping up again after tests revealed the left-hander is dealing only with muscle tightness in his forearm and nothing more serious than that.

Romero had to come out of Wednesday's game in Miami after complaining of arm trouble, and the Nationals placed him on the 10-day disabled list and sent him back to Washington while the club proceeded to Chicago for the weekend.

Romero said he was examined by doctors on Monday, and tests confirmed the forearm tightness, nothing worse.

"No, just forearm tight," he said. "My elbow is good. Everything is all right."

Romero said he received an injection and "today I feel much better than yesterday."

The left-hander played catch on flat ground in the outfield from 90 feet and said tomorrow he may build up to 120 feet. He doesn't know a timetable beyond that yet but admitted he'll need to progress up to throwing off the bullpen mound at some point before he can start seriously thinking about rejoining the Nationals bullpen.

Romero had been developing into one of the club's more trusted relievers before the injury. In his last 24 appearances prior to Wednesday, he had a 2.05 ERA, striking out 35 batters in 26 1/3 innings.

Other injury updates...

* Howie Kendrick is not in tonight's starting lineup after leaving Monday's game with back soreness. Manager Dusty Baker said he's hopeful the veteran utilityman will be ready to play Wednesday.

* Jayson Werth was back at Nationals Park today and took a full round of batting practice. Werth, out since June 4 with a fracture in his left foot, had been in West Palm Beach for the latter half of last week rehabbing at the Nats' spring training complex. He's been able to get at-bats for several weeks now but has not been cleared to ramp up his running to a full 100 percent.

* Michael A. Taylor is continuing his rehab at Double-A Harrisburg tonight after spending the last week with Single-A Potomac. Taylor, out since July 7 with a strained oblique muscle, went 3-for-19 with two walks, seven strikeouts and a stolen base in six games for Potomac.