While the Nationals were busy playing a 4:24, 11-inning game in Milwaukee on Sunday, Jayson Werth and Chad Tracy were continuing their respective rehab assignments with Triple-A Syracuse.
In the second game of a doubleheader, Werth was 2-for-2 with two walks and Tracy clubbed a pinch-hit home run. The Nationals have not yet decided if either or both will be ready to rejoin the active roster before the team begins a seven-game homestand on Tuesday evening.
Tracy appears to be closer to returning than Werth but it is not unrealistic to think that Werth will be ready to be activated before the end of that homestand. Tracy could be added at the start.
Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Saturday that there was “a good chance of Chad Tracy being ready when we get back home.”
He spoke a little less surely about Werth
“That’s really up to him,” Johnson said. “I think he knows his body better than anybody and I’m not as concerned with him having to get three hits a ballgame down there. I’m concerned that he feels mentally that he can go out there and not get hurt running around the outfield and having four at-bats. When he feels like hes’ ready for that, we’ll call him up.”
Tracy is 11-for-33 on his minor league rehab assignment. Werth is now 5-for-21 with six walks.
