Tough luck continues as Anthony Rendon is diagnosed with oblique strain

Infielder Anthony Rendon's visit this afternoon with Nationals team doctor Wiemi Douoguih revealed a left oblique strain.

"We're gonna have to slow his progress down a little bit," Nationals manager Matt Williams said after his team's 6-4 win over the Marlins. "He's felt it for the fast couple days, so we're going to have to sit him a little bit longer and make sure it's OK before he resumes activity. It's just not getting loose for him. So there's a little strain in there and we've gotta take care of it and knock that out before he gets back at it."

Williams indicated that Rendon will remain in D.C. until he heals up and is able to return to the field.

"Yunel (Escobar) had it in spring," Williams said. "He was 10 days back to activity or so, so we'll have to see how Anthony reacts. There's no timetable on it until we fully assess it."

Rendon was scheduled to start his third minor league rehab game at Double-A Harrisburg last Monday when he first experienced the tightness in his left side. He was scratched from the lineup that night and the next day. Two days of rest followed before Rendon suited up and played five innings at second base on Friday in Harrisburg's game at Bowie.

But the side flared up again during pregame workouts on Saturday, knocking the 24-year-old out of games for the remainder of the weekend.

The strained oblique is a major setback for Rendon, who seemed to be on track to return to the Nationals last week after missing nearly two months with a sprained left MCL.

Rendon finished fifth in the National League MVP vote last season after batting .287 with 21 homers, 83 RBIs and 111 runs scored in just his second year in the big leagues.