After taking two days off to rest and study film of his recent outings, Nationals reliever Rafael Soriano threw a bullpen session Monday afternoon and is again available to pitch in games, according to manager Matt Williams.
Williams was not present for Soriano’s bullpen session but spoke with the slumping closer afterwards and was told that it went well. The first-year manager added that Soriano could pitch as early as Monday or Tuesday, depending on the situation.
“It was a pretty good bullpen today. A good, hot bullpen,” Williams said. “That would be just like pitching in a game. There’s no reason why he couldn’t go back-to-back like he would normally. We’ll see how the game unfolds and where we’re at.”
Soriano blew consecutive saves on Wednesday and Friday, his latest hiccups in a dismal two-month stretch. Since the all-star break, the 34-year-old has a 6.98 earned-run average with five blown saves. He has blown a career-high seven saves so far this season.
Soriano was removed from his role as closer to give him time to make mechanical fixes to his delivery, particularly with his slider. Williams later said he would aim to give Soriano a “softer landing” upon his return, which likely would involve low-pressure, non-save situations in which he could get a feel for his slider.
“Video is great, and watching yourself pitch is one thing, but you have to feel it,” Williams said. “You have to get back on a mound and feel it. … That’s the process that he’s going through now.”
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Zimmerman inches toward return
Ryan Zimmerman is running and participating in agility exercises but still has a ways to go as he rehabs a strained right hamstring.
Zimmerman, who has been out of Washington’s lineup since July 23, is running on an anti-gravity treadmill at 90 percent of his bodyweight and participating in agility drills. Williams said the next step for Zimmerman will be running the bases and he is “fairly close to being able to do that.”
“The last MRI he had was good, his strength is good, everything is improving there,” Williams said. “Once he gets out there and is able to turn some bases, then we’ll have a better idea of his time schedule from there.”
Williams did not offer a clear answer when asked if Zimmerman would need to meet a certain benchmark by a certain date to be included on a potential postseason roster. Should he return this season, Zimmerman could play at third base, his natural position, or either first base or left field. He could also be used as a pinch-hitter.
LaRoche garners weekly honors
After a week in which he played through a tight back, swollen left elbow and bout of the flu, Adam LaRoche was named the National League co-player of the week alongside San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey.
LaRoche only played in parts of four games last week but drove in 10 runs and hit four home runs, including two solo shots in Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. After the game, LaRoche said he still is not 100 percent healthy but playing through various ailments might have benefited his swing.
“It takes the focus off of thinking too much and just getting back to if you see it, hit it,” LaRoche said Sunday. “I think there’s something to it. It just goes to show you: you overthink in this game, you see what happens.”
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
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