The Nationals have placed Paul LoDuca (fractured bone in his right hand) and Johnny Estrada (elbow) on the 15-day disabled list. LoDuca will likely miss 4-6 weeks and maybe he can find his hitting stroke when he returns. LoDuca has played in 17 games this season for the Nationals and he is 10 for 50 (.200 avg, .558 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 4 RBIs. Estrada was also off to a very slow start as he has played in 17 games so far this season and he is 7 for 39 (.179 avg, .399 OPS) with 3 RBIs. The Nationals have recalled Jesus Flores who will probably catch the bulk of the games until Estrada is ready to return. Flores was off to a rough start in AAA ball as he played in 16 games there and he was 9 for 56 (.161 avg, 556 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 1 homer and 7 RBIs. Flores has done well for the Nationals this season however as he has played in 4 games for them and he was 4 for 11 (.364 avg., 1.235 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. Will Nieves will be Flores’ backup and he has played well for the Nationals so far this season. Nieves has played in 13 games for the Nationals this season and he is 11 for 30 (.367 avg, .941 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 8 RBIs.

19-year old righty swinging outfielder Chris Marrero is the #1 prospect in the Nationals’ entire minor league system according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook. He has played in 29 games in A-ball this season and he is 26 for 106 (.245 avg, .789 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 5 homers and 16 RBIs. Marrero is a prospect that the Nationals should take their time with but they might move him up quick if he proves he can handle it.

Righty starter Tim Redding is off to a solid start to the 2008 season for the Nationals. He has started 7 games this season and he is 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. The Nationals really needed a veteran pitcher to step up and Redding has teamed with lefty Odalis Perez to give the Nats a couple of steady vets at the top of the rotation. The Nationals hope that both of them can continue to give them quality innings.

The Nationals have placed closer Chad Cordero on the 15-day disabled list with a slight tear in his right shoulder. He will likely miss 4-6 weeks. Cordero has pitched in 6 games for the Nationals this season and he was 0-0 with a 2.08 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. Cordero will be replaced as the closer by Jon Rauch who has done a decent job in that role already this season. In 14 games (0 starts) for the Nationals this season, Rauch is 2-0 with 5 saves, a 4.05 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Luis Ayala will be the top set up man for the Nationals until Cordero is ready to return to action. Ayala has pitched in 17 games for the Nationals this season and he is 0-1 with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.

The Nationals announced that lefty reliever Ray King has refused his outright assignment to AAA, thus becoming a free agent. King pitched in 12 games for the Nationals this season and he was 0-0 with a 5.68 ERA and a 2.05 WHIP. Despite not pitching too well this season King will likely be able to find a new job in the majors due to the fact that he’s left handed.