WASHINGTON (AP) - Nationals All-Star shortstop Cristian Guzman sat out a third consecutive game due to a bruised left thumb Tuesday night and will have an MRI exam Wednesday.
The team said the test was precautionary; earlier, Guzman and manager Manny Acta both ruled out the possibility of a trip to the disabled list.Guzman - who agreed to a $16 million, two-year contract extension last week - is the only member of Washington's opening day lineup who hasn't been on the DL this season.
He leads the team with a .303 batting average and 56 runs. He has five homers and 34 RBIs.
"I got some treatment. I feel a lot better today," Guzman said before Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. "I can play defense, but I can't hold the bat."
He entered the game as a pinch runner in the eighth inning and came around to score, then played in the field in the ninth.
He said the thumb began bothering him during the first week of July, but he played through the pain for the past few weeks - including the All-Star game.
"We feel that he's just a couple of days away," Acta said.
