Williams addresses Werth, Ramos and improving outfield defense, throws to the plate

Manager Matt Williams announced in pregame that Jayson Werth is back in the lineup and leading off, which wasn't exactly the plan earlier Saturday afternoon.

"We planned on giving him a day off, tough travel, late night, into yesterday," Williams said. "The fact that (Ryan Zimmerman) was scheduled for a day off yesterday, we planned on Jayson today. But he got here, feels good, and he's got good numbers certainly."

Werth had trouble defensively Friday night in the Nationals' 10-3 loss to the Brewers when he appeared to come in on a ball hit by Adam Lind in the fifth inning and then sprinted back, only to have the ball go over his head for a double. Today, Williams said he didn't think there should be a concern for Werth and his defense.

"Last night's kind of an aberration," Williams said. "Those balls are hit just to the wall and they're not necessarily high. The one off of (Adam) Lind last night is hit directly over his head. So I think he's moving fine. I think he's been able to come get balls fine. But he's been able to cut balls off and keeps guys to singles, as well. I think he's making progress for sure. Being off that amount of time is difficult."

One concern for the Nationals is plays at the plate on defense and throws from the outfield to catchers Wilson Ramos and Jose Lobaton.

There were a couple of throws Friday and this past week to the plate that were off-line or late for tags that allowed the Brewers to score runs.

The club spent extra time during early pregame Saturday practicing throws from the outfield to the catcher at home plate.

"It's something we want to make sure that we address from time to time," Williams said. "Last night's throw from Bryce (Harper) was coming in hot, ball skipped off the grass a little bit, it's a little longer grass so it has a tendency to skip and that's what it did on (Lobaton) last night.

"So we just wanted to make sure that given the homestand and us playing extended games here, that we make sure we have a good feel for it. So that's all it was today. Quick, 10 minute(s) out there, having balls come in and getting a view of it and a sense of the grass, too."

One issue related to throws home has been Ramos' inability to, at times, catch some outfield throws for plays at the plate.

"It's not easy," Williams said. "You got a guy bearing down on you, full speed, balls coming from all different angles in the outfield and you can't move. There's no way to give. If you give, then you're not able to put the tag on the plate. It's a difficult position. Every other infielder has a chance to move and adjust his feet to catch a ball or to make a play. Catchers don't have that luxury. They're just out there working on it."

But it is important with the arms that Michael A. Taylor and Harper possess that the Nationals take advantage of what appears should be a defensive strength instead of a liability.