Injury Updates: Desmond, Suzuki, Morse

Having already spent the bulk of the season coping with multiple injuries, the last thing the Washington Nationals needed as August winds down was to lose more players to the disabled list. Fortunately, the team has been able to come through the past few days with nothing more than a scare.

Shortstop Ian Desmond, who already missed a chunk of time thanks to a partially torn oblique, pulled up lame while running out a ground ball on Wednesday, clutching his hamstring as he crossed first base. It turns out he somewhat twisted his knee on the play and he was still dealing with some tenderness even after Thursday’s off day. For precautionary reasons Desmond was held out of the lineup for Friday night’s game at Philadelphia, though he was available to pinch hit if needed, and it’s possible that he’ll miss the remaining two games of the series. With an off day following the series, the extra rest may be all that is needed.

Meanwhile, catcher Kurt Suzuki took a foul tip directly off his right hand during Wednesday’s game. The team sent him for x-rays after the game, concerned that he may have broken a bone on the play. The x-rays came back negative and Suzuki was back in the starting lineup last night.

Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick hit left fielder Michael Morse with a pitch in the first inning of last night’s game, forcing Morse to leave the game. Morse was in enough pain to drop to his knees, forcing the team’s trainer out of the dugout to attend to him. X-rays came back negative, squashing concerns that he may have broken the hand on the play. Morse, who missed the season’s first two months with an oblique injury, will likely sit a day or two before returning to the lineup but is not expected to miss any significant time.