Werth on target for Tuesday return to Nats

ATLANTA -- Plans for Jayson Werth's rehab took a detour on Saturday. But this time, that was a good thing.

Manager Davey Johnson had said on Saturday that Werth was going to play nine innings for the Class A Potomac Nationals. But the plan changed and instead, Werth played five innings, going 2-for-3, scoring a run, and making all three plays in the field. The goal of playing a full nine innings shifted to Sunday.

Werth made the most of his final rehab start, going 2-for-4 with a walk, blasting a pair of home runs, driving in six runs and scoring three times. Werth hit .556 (10-for-18) with a 1.544 OPS in six rehab games with Potomac.

"He must have really been feeling frisky," said Johnson following Sunday afternoon's 6-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. "So he'll be ready to carry us on his shoulders, I'm sure. The offense needs perking up. But I think we're going to get Jayson back [Tuesday]. That's going to be a shot in the arm."

Ideally, Werth will return to the lineup on Tuesday when Washington hosts the New York Mets, playing his first game since April 29 in Atlanta.

Werth, is hitting .260 with four homers and 10 RBIs for the Nationals this season.