Bullpen updates on Mattheus, Storen and Rodriguez

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

June 16, 2012, 7:57am

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Nationals right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus said everything went well with his foot in his latest rehab game at Double-A Harrisburg. He is feeling no complications as he recovers from plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Mattheus threw 26 pitches of scoreless ball over one inning. A club source on hand said Mattheus "looked great." Mattheus told me he will have two more rehab assignments on back-to-back days to see how the foot reacts to a pair of games in a row. If everything goes as planned and the foot reacts well, he would be activated. Manager Davey Johnson said reliever Henry Rodriguez (right index finger) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday, and then the right-hander is off to Triple-A Syracuse. He could come off the DL as early as June 21. Johnson had good news on the progress of closer Drew Storen, saying the right-hander looks "for sure" to return by the All-Star break. Johnson said Storen is "feeling good" as he rehabilitates from right elbow surgery to remove a bone chip.