LOS ANGELES -- The Nationals placed outfielder Jayson Werth on the 10-day disabled list with a left foot contusion Monday, and they called up Ryan Raburn from Triple-A Syracuse to take his place on the Major League roster. Raburn batted second and played left field in Monday's series opener against the Dodgers in his Nats debut.
Werth fouled a pitch off his left foot in the ninth inning of the Nationals' 10-4 loss to the A's on Saturday and was later replaced by pinch-runner Wilmer Difo. The left fielder was not in Washington's lineup Sunday and was seen using crutches in the team clubhouse. Werth had a walking boot on his left foot when he arrived in the visiting clubhouse at Dodger Stadium Monday afternoon.
It's the second time Werth has fouled a ball off the foot this year, the first happening in Spring Training. The Nationals did not want to play short-handed this week and decided to place Werth on the DL, retroactive to Sunday.
"I heard last time it was like three days, and this time it could be longer," said manager Dusty Baker. "Last time he wasn't on crutches. When you re-injure something, usually it takes longer the second time. So we could backdate it one day and hopefully he'll be right in eight more days from now."
Werth is batting .262 with an .814 OPS, eight home runs and 18 RBIs through his 47 games this season. Could some time off benefit the 38-year-old in the long run?
"As long as he keeps his hands strong and finds a way to keep his stroke," Baker said. "Jayson lives clean, he eats clean, so it probably won't take him as long. What can you do? You can't throw, you can't hit and you can't run. We've got a great fitness staff, so they'll find a way to keep his legs right, because he hasn't had any leg trouble and that's why he's very productive at 38."
Raburn, 36, hit .261 with a homer and five RBIs in six games since he was activated by Syracuse May 27. He was acquired by the Nationals in a Minor League trade with the White Sox May 26, and he's batting .274 for the year in the International League with four doubles, one triple, four homers, 18 RBIs and 20 walks.
"Hopefully I just come up here and don't get in the way and just help these guys just keep doing what they're doing," Raburn said.
An 11-year veteran, Raburn is a career .253 hitter in 922 big league games. He's played every position except catcher. Raburn has hit left-handers well during his career, posting a .261/.341/.487 slash line against southpaws with 54 of his 91 career homers.
"That's been his forte," Baker said. "We needed some right-handed production. He's the perfect guy for us. He kind of fell in our lap."
Raburn had a long journey to join the Nationals in Los Angeles. He was on a 5 1/2-hour bus ride from Syracuse to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and then took a two-hour cab ride to Boston to hop on a cross-country flight.
"It's been a little chaotic," Raburn said. "But it's definitely worth it to be back up here and playing with a great team."
Right-hander Rafael Martin was designated for assignment Monday to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Raburn.