Zimmerman officially lands on DL, Rendon recalled (Rendon hitting sixth)

It's official: Anthony Rendon now finds himself on the Nationals' big league roster. The Nats have placed Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain this morning. The DL stint will be retroactive to April 18. Taking Zimmerman's spot on the roster - and in the Nationals' lineup - will be Rendon, the organization's top prospect according to Baseball America. The 22-year-old Rendon, who was the Nats' No. 1 pick (sixth overall) in the 2011 first-year player's draft, had started this season at Double-A Harrisburg. In 14 games with the Senators this season, Rendon was batting .292 (14-for-48) with four doubles, two homers, seven RBIs, 14 walks and eight runs scored. Rendon wowed scouts and evaluators within the Nationals' organization during his stint in big league spring training this year, hitting .375 with four home runs, four doubles and 11 RBIs in 13 Grapefruit League games. Rendon also is considered a plus defender at third base, which is where he'll play with Zimmerman out. Zimmerman has missed the Nationals' last two games with his hamstring strain, an injury that has been bugging him for the last handful of games. You might recall that the last time Zimmerman landed on the DL, the Nats promoted Bryce Harper (then the organization's top prospect) to the majors to take Zimmerman's spot on the 25-man roster. They stuck with that theme again this time around, and now Rendon, a guy who many around the league believe to be big league-ready, will get a chance to show what he can do in the majors. Update: Rendon will bat sixth and play third base for the Nats today in his major league debut. He'll be playing behind Jordan Zimmermann, who is looking to move to 4-0 on the season after earning wins in each of his first three starts. The Mets will send Dillon Gee to the mound in today's rubber game. Gee is 0-3 with an 8.36 ERA this season. For the Nats CF Denard Span RF Jayson Werth LF Bryce Harper 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 3B Anthony Rendon 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki RHP Jordan Zimmermann For the Mets CF Jordany Valdespin 2B Daniel Murphy 3B David Wright 1B Ike Davis C John Buck LF Lucas Duda RF Mike Baxter SS Ruben Tejada RHP Dillon Gee