Will Ryan Zimmerman start postseason coming off the bench? (Rendon named Hank Aaron award finalist)

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, appeared with The Junkies on Sports Radio 106.7 The Fan Monday morning, said he will not be 100 percent until spring training, and is still 80-to-85 percent healthy as he recovers from a hamstring strain suffered July 22 and his team heads into the postseason. Zimmerman had said during his rehabilitation process that he never thought of being just a pinch-hitter, but there is a very good chance that is how he will be used in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. I would imagine if the Nationals lose Game 1, he may be installed at third base for Game 2 and Asdrubal Cabrera then would be the first player off the bench. It just makes sense that in Game 1 that the Nats would field use Denard Span, Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon, Ian Desmond, Cabrera and Adam LaRoche, plus catcher Wilson Ramos and starter Stephen Strasburg. The Nationals would not want to go into the playoffs without the potent asset of Zimmerman's quick bat available on the 25-man roster. You may not see the Nats take the chance of Zimmerman at third base unless they somehow trail in the series 1-0 or 2-1. But they definitely will need Zimmerman's bat in an important moment and with the way it looks right now, it very well could be a late inning pinch-hit opportunity. Zimmerman also said he was more comfortable playing left field while rehabbing his right hamstring strain. He said he will just have to wait to see what his role in this first series. There also will be a very good chance we could see Zimmerman in the lineup when the Nats face a left-handed starter. Bryce Harper is not moving from left field. Zimmerman will get into a postseason game as a pinch-hitter, a late season positional replacement or as the starting third baseman. It's similar to the way he was eased back into play over the last couple of weeks and could likely also be the case in the NLDS. But make no mistake, he will play, and I imagine it will be in one capacity or another, every single game. Update: Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon has been nominated for the 2014 Hank Aaron Award. Here is the details regarding the award from the Major League Baseball release: Major League Baseball and MLB Advanced Media announced that fans can vote for the 2014 Hank Aaron Award exclusively online at MLB.com and the 30 Club sites. For the fifth straight year, a special panel of Hall of Fame players led by Hank Aaron will join fans in voting for the award, which is officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball and has recognized the most outstanding offensive performer in each League since it was established in 1999.