--2B Anderson Hernandez (strained left hamstring) is eligible to come off the 15-day DL Saturday, but he remains several days, perhaps a week, away from returning. Hernandez, who hurt himself running out a grounder March 25, played five innings and got two at-bats Friday in an intrasquad game at the Nationals' spring training complex in Viera, Fla. The club wants him to progress up to seven and then nine innings before bringing him back to the major-league roster.

--2B Ronnie Belliard (strained back) was out of the lineup Friday but does not expect to miss much more time. Belliard, who had to come out of Wednesday's game when he re-aggravated the injury, said he was feeling better Friday but expects he'll need a couple more days before he can return to the field. 2B-OF Willie Harris started at second base in Belliard's place against the Braves.

--RHP Shairon Martis' first start of the season was an incomplete one. Because of a 2-hour, 2-minute rain delay in the top of the fourth in Atlanta, the rookie right-hander didn't return to finish his outing. He wound up throwing only 48 pitches, only one of them a true mistake. In the bottom of the third, Martis left a 2-0 fastball out over the plate to Braves SS Yunel Escobar, who crushed it to left-center for a three-run homer. Otherwise, Martis was effective in his brief outing.

--OF Elijah Dukes tweaked his right groin as he fired to the plate on the final play of Friday night's 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Braves. Dukes, who fielded 2B Kelly Johnson's base hit but couldn't throw out OF Jordan Schafer at the plate, limped off the field. The Nationals didn't know immediately how severe the injury is.

MEDICAL WATCH:

OF Elijah Dukes (right groin) was injured making a throw on the final play of the game April 10. The severity of the injury wasn't immediately known.

2B Ronnie Belliard (sore back) left the April 8 game and did not play on April 10. He is day-to-day.

1B Dmitri Young (strained back and hip) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 1. Young, who has been working himself back into shape while trying to manage diabetes, will remain at extended spring training in Viera, Fla. The Nationals hope he'll be ready to go on a rehab assignment at some point in late April and perhaps return to the big-league roster soon after that.

2B Anderson Hernandez (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He is expected back by mid- to late April.

RHP Terrell Young (inflamed right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27.

LHP Matt Chico (Tommy John elbow surgery in July 2008) went on the 60-day disabled list March 28. He will miss at least the first half of the season.

ROTATION:

1. LHP John Lannan

2. LHP Scott Olsen

3. RHP Daniel Cabrera

4. RHP Shairon Martis

BULLPEN:

RHP Joel Hanrahan (closer)

LHP Joe Beimel

RHP Saul Rivera

RHP Steven Shell

RHP Julian Tavarez

RHP Mike Hinckley

LHP Wil Ledezma

LINEUP:

1. CF Lastings Milledge

2. SS Cristian Guzman

3. 3B Ryan Zimmerman

4. LF Adam Dunn

5. RF Austin Kearns

6. 1B Nick Johnson

7. C Jesus Flores

8. 2B Ronnie Belliard

RESERVES:

C Josh Bard

C Wil Nieves

OF/INF Willie Harris

OF Elijah Dukes

OF Josh Willingham

INF Alberto Gonzalez