Young put on DL; Estrada returns

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The Washington Nationals placed Dmitri Young on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained lower back last night, deciding the veteran first baseman's condition wouldn't improve enough to allow him to play this week.

Young, who missed time this spring with back problems, made only two pinch-hitting appearances in the season's first three games, doubling and grounding out. Before last Thursday's game in Philadelphia, he told manager Manny Acta he wouldn't be available to come off the bench, and he hasn't played since.

Young, 34, was sent back to the District the next day and received an injection to help alleviate some of the swelling. He was due to take grounders and batting practice before tonight's game at Nationals Park, but team officials decided he wasn't ready for that.

Last year's National League Comeback Player of the Year, Young has endured difficulties maintaining his diabetes and reported to spring training overweight. Some club officials are concerned his injury is related to poor conditioning and wonder whether he'll need to get his disease under control before he can get back into playing shape.

The move is retroactive to April 3. General manager Jim Bowden said last night in an e-mail there is no timetable for Young's return.

Catcher Johnny Estrada was activated off the 15-day DL and will take Young's roster spot. Estrada had been dealing with the residual effects of offseason right elbow surgery but made significant progress in the last few weeks, going 4-for-16 with an RBI in a four-game rehab stint at Class AAA Columbus.

Backup catcher Jesus Flores had been expected to be optioned to Class AA Harrisburg once Estrada returned, but the Nationals plan to go with three catchers for now.

Hill impresses

Starter Shawn Hill threw five shutout innings in a rehab start at Class A Potomac last night. It remains to be seen when the right-hander will make his 2008 big league debut after starting the season on the disabled list with forearm tightness, but the signs were there that Hill is ready to go.

Hill was perfect through three innings, eventually allowing four hits and one walk. The sinkerballer struck out four, recording nine of his other 11 outs on groundballs.

He threw 69 pitches, 45 of them for strikes, and a team spokesman said he was reaching 90-91 mph on the radar gun.

He said Monday he was still on track to start Sunday against the Atlanta Braves, though Bowden said "I don't have any date on my schedule at all" for when Hill would make his first start.

Left fielder Wily Mo Pena played three innings in Potomac last night, going 0-for-1 with a walk and a run scored.

Parking change at RFK

With the Nationals and D.C. United playing simultaneous home games tonight for the first time this season, the Nats Express shuttle from RFK Stadium to Nationals Park will undergo a minor change.

Fans should park in Lot 7, instead of Lot 8, any day the Nationals and United both play at home. Lot 7 is accessible from East Capitol Street or Oklahoma Avenue.