Injured Logan, Guzman May Return Soon

MIAMI, April 23 -- Washington Nationals center fielder Nook Logan and shortstop Cristian Guzman, both on the disabled list since Opening Day, headed to the team's spring training complex in Viera, Fla., Monday to begin the final steps of rehabilitation that could have them back in the lineup next week.

Logan, who has a strained left foot, spent Sunday morning running hard sprints for the first time.

"From last week to this week, it's going faster than I thought," Logan said. "If you told me last week that I'd be out there running sprints, I'd have looked at you like you were crazy."

Guzman, out because of a strained left hamstring, has fielded ground balls and done side-to-side agility drills. "He feels good running," Manager Manny Acta said.

Both players likely will participate in extended spring training games this week. Acta said no decision has been made as to when or if the players would go on minor league rehabilitation assignments. Though Logan likely will go back into center, moving Ryan Church to left, Acta hasn't said where Guzman will fit.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he said.

Bullpen Strains

Even with right-hander Jerome Williams offering nearly nothing Sunday in a 12-6 loss to Florida, Acta knew he had only three relievers he felt he could use -- setup man Jon Rauch, closer Chad Cordero and Levale Speigner "in an emergency," Acta said, "and myself if they allowed me to pitch."

The strain on the bullpen is already starting to show. In seven games last week, Rauch and Saul Rivera appeared in five apiece, Cordero and Ryan Wagner each pitched four times. Through Sunday, Rauch was tied for the National League lead with 12 appearances, while Micah Bowie (11) and Jesus Colome and Wagner (10 each) were all in the top 10.

This likely will be a recurring theme. Washington's starting pitchers are averaging less than 5 1/3 innings, second fewest in the National League. Thus, the bullpen has already thrown an average of four innings a day.