Rick Ankiel is ready to return from his quadriceps injury and manager Davey Johnson said today that he’ll come off the disabled list as the Nationals’ starting center fielder.
Roger Bernadina has started six of the Nationals’ seven games in center field, with Jayson Werth moving over from right field to take the other start.
Bernadina has hit just .238 with a .657 OPS in 260 career games, so it’s easy to see why Johnson and the Nationals are quick to replace him, although it’s also worth noting that Ankiel hit a nearly identical .239 with a .659 OPS in 122 games for Washington last season.
Michael Morse has been shut down for at least the next six weeks following a setback in his rehab for a lat muscle injury, so the Nationals can certainly use the outfield help, but Ankiel doesn’t figure to provide much relief offensively or defensively.