Nationalsclub.com | Washington Nationals News, nationals Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> --RHP Collin Balester, the Nationals' top-rated pitching prospect, will make his big-league debut Tuesday against the Marlins in Miami. Balester, 22, was 8-1 with a 3.90 ERA in his last 10 starts at Class AAA Columbus (Ohio). The organization's fourth-round pick in the 2004 draft, Balester will be given an extended chance to audition for a permanent spot in Washington's rotation while RHP Shawn Hill recovers from a strained right forearm. "The only guarantee we can make is that it's not going to be one outing and out," manager Manny Acta said. "He's here to get his chance to start."</div>--RHP Chad Cordero will miss the remainder of the season and may not be ready for the start of 2009 after an examination Monday revealed the Nationals closer has a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Cordero had been dealing with shoulder issues since April and made only six appearances before tearing his latissimus dorsi muscle in the back of the shoulder on April 29. Despite his lack of velocity and other problems, two previous MRIs had not shown any damage to the labrum. But while rehabbing at the Nationals' spring training complex in Viera, Fla., Cordero experienced more shoulder pain, requiring another examination. He will be operated on in Los Angeles by orthopedist Lewis Yocum. The Nationals won't know a timetable for Cordero's return until the surgery is completed, but pitchers generally can need 12 to 18 months to come back from a torn labrum. --3B Ryan Zimmerman hopes to begin swinging exercises Tuesday and will have his injured left shoulder re-examined by Cincinnati orthopedist Tim Kremchek while the Nationals are playing the Reds later this week. Zimmerman, out since May 25 with a slightly torn labrum, remains hopeful he can avoid surgery and return to the club following the All-Star break. "I've been happy with the progress I've made," he said. "I'm encouraged. But the real test will be once I start swinging. You can't really tell until you get into a game." --INF Pete Orr was optioned to Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) following Monday night's game against the Marlins. The Nationals needed to clear roster space for RHP Collin Balester, who is set to make his big-league debut Tuesday, and Orr became the odd man out. The veteran utility man appeared in seven games for Washington, going 2-for-7. One bright spot about his demotion: Because he'll be back in the minors, Orr will be eligible to play for his native Canada in the Olympics next month. --SS Cristian Guzman went 2-for-5 to cap a spectacular month of June. Guzman wound up hitting .331 (40-for-121), joining 1B Dmitri Young as the only Nationals to amass 40 hits in a single month. Young did it last June en route to winning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors. BY THE NUMBERS: 41 -- Players the Nationals had used in the major leagues this season after calling up CF Roger Bernadina from Class AA Harrisburg on June 29. QUOTE TO NOTE: "I grew up playing every game. That's how my dad raised me. I'm pretty sure that if he was here, he'd probably throw me out there tomorrow if I was in Little League. But it's a business, and we're in the big leagues. We've got to take things one day at a time." -- CF Lastings Milledge, on how he is handling the right groin injury that will sideline him for two-to-four weeks.

--RHP Collin Balester, the Nationals' top-rated pitching prospect, will make his big-league debut Tuesday against the Marlins in Miami. Balester, 22, was 8-1 with a 3.90 ERA in his last 10 starts at Class AAA Columbus (Ohio). The organization's fourth-round pick in the 2004 draft, Balester will be given an extended chance to audition for a permanent spot in Washington's rotation while RHP Shawn Hill recovers from a strained right forearm. "The only guarantee we can make is that it's not going to be one outing and out," manager Manny Acta said. "He's here to get his chance to start."

--RHP Chad Cordero will miss the remainder of the season and may not be ready for the start of 2009 after an examination Monday revealed the Nationals closer has a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Cordero had been dealing with shoulder issues since April and made only six appearances before tearing his latissimus dorsi muscle in the back of the shoulder on April 29. Despite his lack of velocity and other problems, two previous MRIs had not shown any damage to the labrum. But while rehabbing at the Nationals' spring training complex in Viera, Fla., Cordero experienced more shoulder pain, requiring another examination. He will be operated on in Los Angeles by orthopedist Lewis Yocum. The Nationals won't know a timetable for Cordero's return until the surgery is completed, but pitchers generally can need 12 to 18 months to come back from a torn labrum.

--3B Ryan Zimmerman hopes to begin swinging exercises Tuesday and will have his injured left shoulder re-examined by Cincinnati orthopedist Tim Kremchek while the Nationals are playing the Reds later this week. Zimmerman, out since May 25 with a slightly torn labrum, remains hopeful he can avoid surgery and return to the club following the All-Star break. "I've been happy with the progress I've made," he said. "I'm encouraged. But the real test will be once I start swinging. You can't really tell until you get into a game."

--INF Pete Orr was optioned to Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) following Monday night's game against the Marlins. The Nationals needed to clear roster space for RHP Collin Balester, who is set to make his big-league debut Tuesday, and Orr became the odd man out. The veteran utility man appeared in seven games for Washington, going 2-for-7. One bright spot about his demotion: Because he'll be back in the minors, Orr will be eligible to play for his native Canada in the Olympics next month.

--SS Cristian Guzman went 2-for-5 to cap a spectacular month of June. Guzman wound up hitting .331 (40-for-121), joining 1B Dmitri Young as the only Nationals to amass 40 hits in a single month. Young did it last June en route to winning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors.

BY THE NUMBERS: 41 -- Players the Nationals had used in the major leagues this season after calling up CF Roger Bernadina from Class AA Harrisburg on June 29.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I grew up playing every game. That's how my dad raised me. I'm pretty sure that if he was here, he'd probably throw me out there tomorrow if I was in Little League. But it's a business, and we're in the big leagues. We've got to take things one day at a time." -- CF Lastings Milledge, on how he is handling the right groin injury that will sideline him for two-to-four weeks.