Winker (knee) is starting in left field and batting third Saturday against the Rays.
Winker was battling knee problems after getting his foot caught in the outfield grass during the first inning of Friday's game, but he appears to be in good enough shape to play Saturday. The 30-year-old has slashed .260/.377/.412 through 302 plate appearances this season, though he may see limited work in the outfield after top prospect James Wood officially joins the Nationals for his MLB debut Monday.
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Nationals' Jesse Winker: No structural damage in knee
Rotowire
Winker said after Friday's game versus Tampa Bay that imaging had revealed no structural damage in his right knee, and he's hoping he'll be able to play Saturday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Winker tweaked his knee after his foot got caught in the outfield turf while running down a flyball during the first inning Friday. He had to come out of the game early and was noticeably limping as he walked to the dugout, though it appears he managed to avoid a significant injury. Winker's defensive duties could be limited the rest of the season, as top prospect James Wood is expected to join the big-league roster Monday and take over in left field.
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Nationals' Jesse Winker: Early exit Friday
Rotowire
Winker was removed from Friday's game against the Rays with what appears to be a right ankle injury, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Winker sustained the injury running into the wall while tracking down a flyball in the first inning. Though he was able to walk off under his own power, he sported a noticeable limp. Ildemaro Vargas replaced Winker in left field.
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Nationals' Jesse Winker: Homers in Tuesday's loss
Rotowire
Winker went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 9-7 loss to the Padres.
Winker took Adam Mazur deep in the third inning to cap off a four-run rally for the Nationals. That was Winker's ninth homer of the year and his third over the last seven contests. The outfielder is up to a .264/.382/.419 slash line with 36 RBI, 37 runs scored and 12 stolen bases through 76 games this season.
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Nationals' Jesse Winker: Sitting against lefty
Rotowire
Winker isn't in the Nationals' lineup for Sunday's game versus Colorado.
The left-handed bat of Winker will step out of the lineup Sunday as the Nationals prepare to face left-handed starter Kyle Freeland. Ildemaro Vargas will enter to cover left field and bat third while Winker sits.
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Nationals' Jesse Winker: Goes yard again Thursday
Rotowire
Winker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the Diamondbacks.
For the second straight game, Winker went yard in the sixth inning, this time taking Ryne Nelson deep. While those are the veteran outfielder's only two long balls in June, he's otherwise putting together an impressive month, slashing .389/.484/.519 through 17 games with nine runs and 10 RBI.
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Nationals' Jesse Winker: Swats seventh homer
Rotowire
Winker went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Arizona.
He delivered what proved to be the game-winning hit in the sixth inning when he drove a Brandon Pfaadt splitter over the fence in left-center field. Winker snapped a 25-game homer drought with the blast, but he wasn't exactly slumping during that stretch, batting .333 (25-for-75) over that stretch. On the season, the 30-year-old outfielder is slashing .266/.380/.406 with seven homers, 11 steals, 33 RBI and 34 runs in 70 contests.
Winker went 2-for-3 with a double in Tuesday's loss to the Diamondbacks.
The Nats managed only four hits on the night in a shutout loss, with Winker's fourth-inning double being the team's only extra-base hit. The 30-year-old outfielder sat out Sunday's game after tweaking his knee on the basepaths Saturday, but he seemed no worse for wear Tuesday. On the season, Winker is slashing .270/.381/.398 with six homers, 31 RBI, 33 runs and a career-high 11 steals in 69 contests.
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Nationals' Jesse Winker: Starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Winker (knee) is batting third and playing left field Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.
Winker exited Saturday's game against the Marlins with a right knee injury, but he's back in the Nationals' lineup after a one-game absence. The 30-year-old is slashing .265/.378/.390 with 11 stolen bases this season.
Nationals' Jesse Winker: Avoids structural damage to knee
Rotowire
Winker, who is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins, said an MRI on his right knee showed no structural damage, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Winker noted, however, that he's still dealing with some stiffness in his right knee, which he injured while running the bases in the first inning of Saturday's 4-0 win before he was pulled in the third inning. The 30-year-old said that he expects to be good to go after a couple of days of rest, and he'll benefit from the Nationals being off Monday before the team begins a three-game set with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
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Nationals' Jesse Winker: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Winker (knee) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Winker required an MRI after exiting Saturday's 4-0 win with a right knee injury, and while the results of his medical tests haven't yet been revealed, he'll be forced to miss out on at least one start. With Winker out of the lineup Sunday, Ildemaro Vargas will pick up a start in left field.
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Nationals' Jesse Winker: Having imaging done on right knee
Rotowire
Winker will undergo an MRI after sustaining a right knee injury during Saturday's game against the Marlins, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Winker awkwardly slid back into second after rounding the base on a Ildemaro Vargas hit and was removed from the game in the third inning. The outfielder will have an MRI done on his right knee later Saturday, which should provide some insight on the severity of the injury.
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Nationals' Jesse Winker: Exits early versus Miami
Rotowire
Winker (undisclosed) exited Saturday's matchup with the Marlins in the bottom of the third inning, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Winker singled and later rounded second base on a base knock from Ildemaro Vargas in the bottom of the first inning before being tagged out after awkwardly sliding back into the bag. Luis Garcia replaced Winker at the plate in the third inning and more information on Winker's status will likely come following Saturday's contest.
Nationals' Jesse Winker: Crosses plate three times Tuesday
Rotowire
Winker went 1-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and three runs scored in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Mets.
The steal actually came on a botched pickoff, as Mets starter David Peterson had Winker dead to rights but Pete Alonso couldn't handle the pitcher's throw to first. It still goes into the books as Winker's 11th stolen base of the season, an incredible number considering he came into the year just 3-for-6 on the basepaths over 610 career big-league games. The 30-year-old outfielder is also locked in at the plate right now, batting .343 (12-for-35) with a .429 OBP over the last 11 contests, but his only extra-base hit among those dozen knocks is a double.
