As expected, the Nationals will activate Paul Lo Duca off the 15-day DL tomorrow, in time for the start of a three-game series at Minnesota. Lo Duca, as we've been saying for the last few days, won't be Manny Acta's regular catcher. That will be Jesus Flores. Lo Duca will make a few starts behind the plate per week, plus possibly get some at-bats in left field and/or first base. I wouldn't be surprised also if he serves as DH at some point in this interleague series.

To make room on the roster for him, the Nationals optioned Tyler Clippard back to Columbus. Poor guy, he's been shuttled back and forth now for a week, and it didn't even matter that he pitched well and earned the win Saturday night in Seattle. But the Nats don't need a fifth starter again until this Saturday, and they wanted to bring Lo Duca back without losing a position player. So Clippard is a Clipper once again, and he must remain down there at least 10 days before he can return (barring another new injury).

Finally, an update on Nick Johnson: The injured first baseman finally has the hard cast removed from his right wrist today, four weeks after first going on the DL with a torn tendon sheath. He's now wearing a splint and has begun a rehabilitation program. Best case scenario: He goes through the program for another two weeks or so, then goes out on a minor-league rehab assignment and returns to the Nats in no fewer than three weeks. That's the optimistic view.

That's all for today. Goessling will have everything covered this week in Minnesota, so I'll talk to you all Friday.

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