The Nationals avoided a sweep with an 8-1 win over the Mets on Sunday, but they have continued to struggle with the same issues that led them to 13 losses in their first 16 games this season. Washington's remade bullpen hasn't blown a save since the Nationals sent three players to the minors on April 19, but a lack of productive hitting and a spate of errors led to back-to-back one run losses on Wednesday and Friday. The topper was an 8-2 loss to the Mets on Saturday, when the fly ball Elijah Dukes lost in the sun led to three Mets runs.
PLAYER NEWS: --2B/OF Willie Harris, who had been sidelined due to a strained left oblique muscle, was activated from the disabled list after the minimum 15-day absence. The Nationals optioned OF Justin Maxwell to Class AAA Syracuse. Maxwell went 3-for-8 in six big-league games this season.
--RHP Kip Wells will share late-inning relief duty with RHP Julian Tavarez, manager Manny Acta said Tuesday, after the team stripped RHP Joel Hanrahan of the closer's role. Wells has never closed in the major leagues, but he has posted a 2.08 ERA in four appearances this season. "If you're going to have success doing various jobs, you can't categorize them by when you're throwing," Wells said. "You still have to simplify the job down to staying relaxed and making one pitch at a time."
--RHP Julian Tavarez will share the closer's job with RHP Kip Wells, at least temporarily until LHP Joe Beimel returns from the disabled list, manager Manny Acta said Tuesday. Tavarez, who signed a minor league deal with the Nationals in March, has a 3.12 ERA in 12 appearances this season.
--SS Cristian Guzman is expected to be activated for Wednesday's game against the Phillies, returning after a left hamstring strain kept him out for two weeks. Guzman was hitting .515 in the seven games before he went down, and he will resume his role as the Nationals' leadoff hitter.
MEDICAL WATCH:
2B/OF Willie Harris (strained left oblique muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 13. He was activated April 28.
SS Cristian Guzman (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 14. He should be back after missing just 15 days.
LHP Joe Beimel (strained left hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 21.
1B Dmitri Young (strained back and hip) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 1. He was expected to begin a 20-day rehab stint with Class AAA Syracuse in late April or early May.
OF Roger Bernadina (broken right ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 19. He had surgery April 18, and he will miss a minimum of two months before beginning a rehab assignment.
RHP Terrell Young (inflamed right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He started a throwing program at extended spring training in early April.
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:
LHP John Lannan
LHP Scott Olsen
RHP Daniel Cabrera
RHP Shairon Martis
RHP Jordan Zimmermann
BULLPEN:
RHP Julian Tavarez
RHP Kip Wells
RHP Mike Hinckley
RHP Joel Hanrahan
RHP Saul Rivera
RHP Garrett Mock
RHP Jason Bergmann
CATCHERS:
Jesus Flores
Wil Nieves
INFIELDERS:
1B Nick Johnson
2B Anderson Hernandez
SS Alberto Gonzalez
3B Ryan Zimmerman
INF Ronnie Belliard
INF Alex Cintron
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Adam Dunn
CF Elijah Dukes
RF Austin Kearns
OF Josh Willingham
OF/2B Willie Harris
