Werth sidelined by wrist contusion
Left fielder hopeful MRI shows no torn ligaments
SAN DIEGO -- Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth will not play next two games against the Padres because of a left wrist contusion, which he injured during Friday's 10-0 victory.
While the X-rays were negative, Werth is hoping that the swelling goes down in order to have an MRI to make sure there aren't any torn ligaments.
In the top of the second inning on Friday, Werth was hit on the left wrist by a pitch from San Diego right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne. Werth dropped to the ground for a couple of minutes before going to first base.
After the half-inning ended, Werth was seen talking to third-base coach Bobby Hensley and then manager Matt Williams before he came out of the game. Tyler Moore replaced Werth in left field.
Werth said his most recent injury reminded him of when he broke his left wrist in 2005, when he was a member of the Dodgers. That year, Werth broke the wrist on the first day of Spring Training and missed 44 games. After the season, Werth under underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair ligaments in the left wrist.
Werth missed the entire 2006 season after having surgery in April of that year. Werth acknowledged that he went through a difficult time when he was with the Dodgers. He expects a better outcome with this injury.
"I'm doing OK, but my wrist is pretty sore. The X-rays were negative, so that's a positive. But we are not out of the woods, so to speak." Werth said.
In other news, right-hander Doug Fister, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday night, went to Washington to see the team doctor, Wiemi Douoguih, on Saturday, and it was revealed that Fister has a flexor strain. The MRI indicated there wasn't a tear in Fister's arm. Williams didn't say how long Fister will be out.
"The results are positive. The normal thing that everybody does, he gets checked out for a few days and make sure [the injury] calms down enough," Williams said. "He is getting some anti-inflammatory medication. He'll start a little bit of a strengthening program after that. He'll get back to throwing very soon."