Scherzer dealing with swollen thumb, Rendon back in action

MIAMI - Just as the Nationals' medical report was beginning to clear up, more nagging injuries to a couple of the team's starters have popped up.

Nationals ace Max Scherzer jammed his right thumb in his second at-bat in the fifth inning of yesterday's loss to the Cardinals. He remained in the game to pitch the next two innings before leaving with discomfort. Swelling developed in Scherzer's throwing hand overnight according to manager Matt Williams.

"We're treating him aggressively, looking to get him into a bullpen - a normal rest bullpen and a normal rest game, but we'll have to make sure the swelling gets out of there beforehand," Williams said. "Needless to say, he won't hit between starts and aggravate it, so he'll just take the next four days and make sure he's good to go."

Williams thinks Scherzer will be healed enough by Tuesday when the right-hander is scheduled to make his next start in Atlanta.

"We'll have to see over the next couple and make some adjustments (if) he can't, but all indications are he should be okay," Williams said.

Williams plans to make sure his prized pitcher takes extra precaution at the plate from here on out.

"We're not worried about him hitting," Williams said. "He can go up there and stand and take three, as far as I'm concerned. He does swing the bat well, too. It's one of those things you have to deal with sometimes because pitchers hit in this league, so they do get hit with pitches, they do get jammed like everybody else does. For sure, he'll have a thumb guard, and we'll make that determination next time he starts whether he's actually gonna swing or not. I'm (more) worried about him going eight than driving in a run."

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman will start tonight as he continues to deal with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. It's the first time the 30-year-old has ever dealt with it in his 11-year career. He was especially hampered by the discomfort on the basepaths last night, to the point where it prevented him from taking second on what should've been a guaranteed double.

"I don't know if it's good, but he feels better today than he did yesterday," Williams said. "It's gonna be an everyday kind of thing to make sure he shows up and feels okay. It's a nagging type thing. So we're not looking at a major issue, but it nags."

In addition to ice treatment and anti-inflammatories, Zimmerman has been wearing a splint at night to keep his foot stretched out while he sleeps.

The Nats are still waiting on right-hander Casey Janssen to make his team and season debut. The former Blue Jays closer remains in Viera, Fla., where he seems to finally be making some headway on his recovery from tendinitis in his throwing shoulder.

"Casey threw another bullpen today," Williams said. "So it's a bullpen Wednesday, day off, bullpen today, day off. We'll evaluate from there on simulated game, live BP type of stuff, and then get him into games. He's still got to go through that process of higher pitch count, back-to-back, all that kind of stuff before he's ready to go. But good progress on him, second bullpen today."

Finally, the most promising news to report is third baseman Anthony Rendon's return to the field tonight in Double-A Harrisburg. He has already doubled in his first at-bat and plans to play five innings.

"Getting his rehab assignment started, yeah it's good," Williams said. "I saw him yesterday. He looked good. Took grounders all over the place, hit and ran. I saw no remnants of any issue. So I think he's prepared to go do that. The question is getting him into baseball shape. It's important for him to get his legs underneath him. The last thing we want is to rush him back too early and have something go wrong because he's not in shape. But yeah, it's nice to see him back again, for sure. Big part of our team."