Zimmerman frustrated by lingering injury

WASHINGTON -- Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman is hoping he can play in games before the regular season comes to an end Oct. 4. Unfortunately, he is still bothered by left oblique soreness. While he can lift weights and run on the treadmill, Zimmerman is unable to do any baseball activities, including swinging a bat.

If he doesn't play another game in 2015, Zimmerman will have averaged 78 games in the last two seasons. In 2014, Zimmerman missed time because of a fractured right thumb and strained right hamstring. This year, he's been limited to 95 games because of plantar fasciitis and the oblique injury.

Entering Friday's action, Zimmerman still ranks second on the team with 73 RBIs. He hasn't played since Sept. 7.

Zimmerman, 30, acknowledged that he may have to change the way he works out in the offseason. He's bothered that he is not on the field helping the Nationals during the pennant race.

"The goal from here on out is to do everything I can just to play 145 games a year [starting next year]," Zimmerman said. "I think it's a combination of some bad luck and, obviously, getting older, playing a lot of games. You have to make some adjustments in the way you get ready for the season.

"What you do as far as weight lifting, strengthening -- the only way to learn is to go through it. I'll make some adjustments -- maybe not lift as much, focus a little bit more on flexibility and things like that, which I have done, but really take it to the next level. If I can stay on the field for 145 games -- at the minimum -- then I can do what I'm supposed to do."