Recovering from flu, Werth gets night off

NEW YORK -- Outfielder Jayson Werth was not in Friday's lineup against the Mets due to, as manager Matt Williams put it, "dead legs." The scheduled day off was also needed because Werth is recovering from the flu, which had been going around since the team played the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Williams is hoping that Werth can return to action on Saturday.

"It has been a long year for him, certainly for all of us," Williams said. "Today was just a normal day off, but nothing from the hit by pitch [on Thursday] or in regard to the shenanigans from last night."

With Werth out of the lineup, Nate Schierholtz received the start in right field. Although Schierholtz is 1-for 16 with the Nats entering Friday's action, Williams believes he is swinging the bat well.

"He doesn't have a lot to show for it," Williams said, "but he is on everything. We want him to have meaningful at-bats. He was brought over because of Nate [McLouth's shoulder] injury, and he is going to be a big part of our team until the end of the season. We want him to get in there as many times as he can. He gives us another option left-handed, and he certainly has experience playing right."