Nationals need to call up Difo if Span and Escobar not available tonight

The Nationals were significantly short-handed Tuesday offensively without Denard Span (back spasms) and Yunel Escobar (left hamstring tightness). Both left Monday's game early, so the Nationals have gone close to 15 innings without their starting one and two-hole hitters.

Already the team is without Jayson Werth (wrist), Ryan Zimmerman (plantar fasciitis), Anthony Rendon (quad) and Stephen Strasburg (oblique).

That is five starters unavailable offensively. Not to mention that the bench was down two players because Dan Uggla and Matt den Dekker were thrust into the starting lineup.

Johnny Cueto was very good. He allowed the Nationals only two hits, one from Bryce Harper and another from Ian Desmond.

Williams did not have a definitive answer after Tuesday's difficult loss about the status of Span and Escobar for Wednesday's finale against the Reds. As of the postgame press conference, he had not spoken to the team doctor about Span's condition or the results of seeing the back specialist.

"We'll have to reevaluate tomorrow when we get to the park," Williams said. "Another night game, so it's a regular turnaround, we'll see where they are at as we get into the park tomorrow. Really short on the bench tonight."

But the bottom line is the Nationals should make a move if either Span or Escobar or both cannot play tonight. They really can't go another game without a full complement of available infielders and a 25-man roster.

Infielder Emmanuel Burris should play. He has been here for over a week and has not received significant playing time or a start. Shortstop Wilmer Difo should be called up from Double-A Harrisburg. He has all the tools and showed in his limited time here earlier this season he can contribute at the big league level.

Leaving Max Scherzer without much offensive firepower left the Nationals with a limited margin of error against the Reds and their best starter, Cueto, who finished second in the National League Cy Young balloting last season. It was too much to overcome. If Span or Escobar are unavailable, the team has the luxury of next week's All-Star break to buy some time in their recovery. If one of them is placed on the disabled list, they would only miss the Orioles and Dodgers series before being available for the Mets at home July 22.

Get Span some rest and bring Difo up. Then Span will hopefully be completely healthy by the end of July. Same goes for Escobar. Having 23 against 25 makes it extremely difficult to sustain success for more than one game.