Zimmerman starting rehab assignment with Potomac tonight (updated)

Looks like Ryan Zimmerman might be back with the Nationals within a matter of days.

Zimmerman will start a rehab assignment with high Single-A Potomac tonight, the Nationals announced. Zimmerman will DH for the P-Nats and bat third.

This comes two days after Zimmerman was put through a fairly strenuous workout at Nats Park in which he took live batting practice for the first time since landing on the disabled list with a fractured left thumb on April 13.

Zimmerman also took ground balls at first base, this after getting some work in the outfield for the last couple of weeks.

Manager Matt Williams said that he has options to rotate Zimmerman in at third base, first base and left field once he's ready to return.

Assuming Zimmerman progresses nicely in his rehab while getting into games at the minor league level, it's probably not unreasonable to expect that he could be back in the Nationals lineup on Tuesday, when the Nats open a series against the Phillies.

Tomorrow will mark the seven-week mark since Zimmerman fractured the thumb diving back into second base in a game against the Braves.

The Nats have gone 18-23 with Zimmerman on the DL.

Here are tonight's lineups for the opener of a three-game set with the Rangers:

For the Rangers:

LF Shin-Soo Choo
SS Elvin Andrus
1B Mitch Moreland
3B Adrian Beltre
RF Alex Rios
C Chris Gimenez
CF Leonys Martin
2N Rougned Odor
RHP Colby Lewis

For the Nationals:

CF Denard Span
3B Anthony Rendon
RF Jayson Werth
1B Adam LaRoche
C Wilson Ramos
SS Ian Desmond
LF Nate McLouth
2B Danny Espinosa
RHP Stephen Strasburg

Update: Zimmerman finished 0-for-3 with a sac fly and an RBI in the P-Nats' 5-4 10-inning win over Salem.