The Washington Nationals placed outfielder Kyle Schwarber on the 10-day injured list. However, manager Dave Martinez described Schwarber out indefinitely with a “significant” hamstring strain that will keep him out beyond 10 days.
Schwarber suffered the injury Friday in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He ripped a single to center field. As he was rounding first base, he pulled up gimpy and grabbed his right hamstring area. Schwarber exited the game following a visit from Martinez and the Nationals head trainer.
It’s an unfortunate gut-wrenching injury. Schwarber was named NL Player of the Month for June. He went on a historic tear, hitting 16 home runs in an 18-game span. Only Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa were the other players to accomplish the feat in MLB history.
Schwarber’s tear was all after the Nationals placed him at top of their lineup as the leadoff hitter. He proceeded to hit seven leadoff homers in 21 games led off the Nationals’ lineup. His presence fused the club’s offense with him batting ahead of Trea Turner and Juan Soto.
As the leadoff hitter, Schwarber hit .338/.416/.974 with 16 home runs and 30 RBIs. He also scored 22 runs and drew 10 walks. For the season, Schwarber hit .253/.350/.570 with 25 home runs. 53 RBIs and 42 runs scored.
The Nationals also placed Alex Avila on the 10-day injured list with bilateral calf strains. The team made a series of moves to accommodate both Schwarber and Avila absences as well as Turner, who has now missed three straight starts with a finger injury.
Kyle Schwarber told reporters he will be back as soon as he can. Said it’s not the “worst-case scenario” and will not need surgery, just rest and treatment, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports.
Washington had rode his hot hitting to a 19-9 record in the month of June. They climbed out of a hole in the standings to come within two games back of the New York Mets for first place in the NL East. However, Schwarber’s injury along with Turner’s jammed finger and a number of others, have the Nationals a lot less optimistic than they were a day or two ago.
