Yunel Escobar to play first game Monday, Danny Espinosa in unfamiliar territory at third

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams has Danny Espinosa doing something he's never done in a major or minor league game today, starting at third base. In fact, the 27-year-old has only played two innings there, in the ninth and 10th innings of Thursday's tie with Detroit.

"He's an athlete," Williams said. "He can play anywhere on the diamond. We could put him in center field and he'd play fine. We want to certainly give him some experience over there."

That's because it is not yet known when starting third baseman Anthony Rendon will return from a mild left MCL sprain.

"I think I pushed him on it a little bit," Williams said. "My thought on it was, 'Hey, if we get in a situation where you have to play it, I just want you to have a little bit of experience there.' And he's fine. He's got great hands, great feet. Plenty of arm, we all know that. So it's a question of him getting used to the position a little bit in case it comes up during the season and we've got to do it."

Meanwhile, Rendon continues just running as he rehabs his knee injury. He's only played in three spring games so far.

"He's getting better," Williams said. "He's ramping his workouts up. It won't be long before we get him out on the field and all of that stuff, too. Again, we've got to be mindful of where he's at, but I don't expect it to be much longer before he gets back on the field."

Williams indicated that Rendon is still experiencing some mild discomfort.

"He talked to me about it two days ago and said that initially where he lives, he's got to go downstairs and that was an issue early on. But as of a couple days ago, he was pain-free doing that so that helps," Williams said. "But going downstairs is nothing like going in the hole and pivoting and turning around.

"The other part of it was he felt it when he swung a bat, so that's an important step because it's his front leg and he's got to rotate on it. It's important for him to get past that. But he's working toward it. He feels good about it. I certainly feel good about it and I think he'll be in a game soon."

Infielder Yunel Escobar will finally see his first game action of the exhibition season in a couple of days, according Williams.

"The plan for Yunel is to play here on Monday (against the Yankees)," Williams said. "He'll do a full workout today, full BP, grounders, everything. See how he comes out of that and he'll do it again tomorrow. And then the plan is for him to play three innings and get a couple of at-bats on Monday."

Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth said Thursday that he's still hopeful he can return in time to play on opening day. He saw his first game action yesterday, playing the field for three innings without hitting at minor league camp.

"I would put nothing past him," Williams said. "That being said, we are going to be cautious yet aggressive at the same time depending on how he feels. The key to that situation is structurally he's good. It's a question of getting in shape, getting his arm in shape, getting his shoulder in shape and working out any issues that he may have swinging the bat. When that time happens and when he feels good about it, I've got all the confidence in the world in getting him games and not having an issue. Just don't know exactly when that will be."