Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman And Jose Lobaton Activated Off DL

Before tonight’s game in Atlanta, the Washington Nationals activated Ryan Zimmerman and Jose Lobaton off the 15-day disabled list

After last night’s close win against the Atlanta Braves, the Washington Nationals made a couple of roster moves before tonight’s game. The Nationals activated first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and catcher Jose Lobaton off the 15-day disabled list. With those moves, pitcher A.J. Cole and catcher Pedro Severino were sent back to triple-A Syracuse:

The #Nats have reinstated 1B Ryan Zimmerman & C Jose Lobaton from the DL. RHP AJ Cole & C Pedro Severino were optioned to Triple-A.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 20, 2016

Zimmerman is back in the lineup tonight as he will be batting seventh against Braves starter Tyrell Jenkins. As Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post tweeted out this afternoon, the seventh spot in the order is a spot Zimmerman doesn’t usually hit out of:

Ryan Zimmerman has played in 1,373 MLB games. He has only started four of them hitting seventh, where he hits tonight in Atlanta.
— Barry Svrluga (@barrysvrluga) August 20, 2016

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During his three games at triple-A Syracuse, Zimmerman was 6-for-12 with a triple, a home run, and two RBI’s. The 31-year-old will hope that success carries over to his Major League return as he had a rough 2016 season, hitting only .222 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI’s in 80 games.

Zimmerman has been out of the lineup since July 31 because of a wrist injury after being hit by a pitch against the San Francisco Giants. It will be interesting to see how much playing time Nationals manager Dusty Baker gives Zimmerman if he continues to struggle. Does he still play Zimmerman every day or does he have him split time with Clint Robinson, who is 10-for-27 in the month of August.

With Zimmerman back in the batting order, Daniel Murphy goes back to second base and Trea Turner goes to center field. That means two heroes from last night’s win (Ben Revere and Robinson) will be on the bench for tonight’s game.

As for Lobaton, he hasn’t played in a game since July 20 because of an elbow injury. During his rehab stint at Syracuse, the 31-year-old went 5-for-13 with a RBI. He’s had a bad year at the plate as well, (.194, three home runs, six RBI’s in 27 games), but he is known more for his defense behind the plate.

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While Severino was sent back down, he still had a good showing in his brief time with the big league club. In eight games, he hit .412 (7-for-17) with a home run and two RBI’s.

With the rosters expanding to 40 players on September 1, Severino should be one of the Washington Nationals September call-ups. Meanwhile, Cole goes back down after not pitching since he was called up to the Washington Nationals on Thursday.

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