WASHINGTON -- Add another player to the long injury list for the Nationals. Manager Dusty Baker revealed after Friday's 4-2 loss to the Mets at Nationals Park that first baseman Ryan Zimmerman injured his arm and shoulder after a headfirst slide at the plate in the 11th inning on Thursday night in Houston.
Baker did not go into further detail about the nature of Zimmerman's injury -- like which shoulder is hurt -- but said his first baseman was unavailable to play on Friday. Many of the Nationals' starters did not play after the club's late arrival from Houston after 4.30 a.m. ET on Friday, but Zimmerman's injury also prevented him from pinch-hitting.
"Really couldn't swing," Baker said. "I don't anticipate he'll be much better tomorrow, but hopefully on Sunday."
Prior to the game, Baker shook his head and sighed as he thought about the number of injuries his team has endured so far this season. Washington's entire Opening Day starting outfield and shortstop are on the disabled list.
With all the injuries, Baker has leaned on Zimmerman a bit more than he would have liked to this year considering Zimmerman has had the previous three seasons wrecked by injuries. But 2017 has been a healthy and productive year for Zimmerman, one that made him an All-Star for the second time in his career. He has posted a .919 OPS with 29 homers, his highest total since '09.
Although Zimmerman was a bit slow to get to his feet after the headfirst slide, he had run from first base to score on a single in the gap by Matt Wieters. Zimmerman showed no ill effects after the game, and he even made a joke about his sprint.
"It's August, whatever it is," Zimmerman said on Thursday. "So everyone feels terrible right now. If you've been playing all year, no one feels good right now. This is the hardest part of the year."