Zim has setback; Kearns has tissue removed from thumb

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann did not have his scheduled bullpen session on Friday because he continues to have tightness in his right elbow. He will have an MRI soon to determine the seriousness of the injury.

The Nationals were hoping that Zimmermann could pitch on Tuesday against the Braves, but that plan has been put on hold.  

“He just came in and he feels a little something there. We are concerned [enough] to not let him throw in the bullpen,” interim manager Jim Riggleman said. “He wants to pitch. But with where we are at, we are going to get him looked at again, get some pictures taken. Hopefully, he will be pitching.”       

In other news, outfielder Austin Kearns had tissue removed from his injured right thumb in Baltimore. He will be re-evaluated on Monday to determined how long he will be out for.   

Outfielder Roger Bernadina, who is on the DL because of a fractured right ankle, will not play in a big league game anytime soon. Although the bone in the ankle has healed, Bernadina feels a lot of soreness. There’s no timetable on when he will play in a Major League game again.