Nationals activate CF Span from DL, option RHP Roark

When he spoke about returning to the Washington Nationals’ lineup on Tuesday, after his second trip to the disabled list this season, the discoloration around his chin had appeared to increase.

Span is batting. 304 with five homers and 11 steals in 59 games this season.

The Nationals were the preseason pick to win the National League East, but they have not performed as expected, partly because of injuries. Because of injuries to Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman and others, Span has never been on the field with all of his teammates at once, including spring training.

Span also began the season on the DL after surgery to fix a right core muscle in March and surgery on a sports hernia in December. “It gives us a little bit of an option”.

“I hope so”, he said. “But there’s no betting in baseball”.

RHP Tanner Roark (4-4, 4.54 ERA in 34 games, including six starts) was optioned to Class A Potomac with the intention of building up his pitch count for possible starting duty in September, according to manager Matt Williams. “My body still needs to get into shape”.

“I haven’t played in a long time”.

He will work in the minors as a starter, in part because rookie Joe Ross has thrown more innings than ever before and may ultimately be shut down for the season. “But, I felt confident enough to say, ‘Let’s go up here, ‘ to come back and do what I can do”. This year, he’s thrown 79 1-3. “We’ll evaluate him after today and as he prepares for tomorrow and see where he’s at”. However, after hitting, running and working in the outfield in early August, he stopped seeing progress with his back, which delayed his return.