Dukes Is Out For at Least Four Weeks

DENVER, Aug. 6 -- These days for the Washington Nationals, "day-to-day" is less a prognosis than an epitaph. Heightening a head-shaking trend, the Nationals on Wednesday learned that another injury, first thought to be minor, was in fact the opposite. An MRI exam of Elijah Dukes's bothersome right calf revealed a strain far more significant than the team first believed, and as a result, Dukes, the team's starting left fielder, will miss four to six weeks.

"It's been tough," Manager Manny Acta said, "but we've had so many [injuries] so far that nothing catches us by surprise anymore and we just try to deal with it."

For Dukes, the last days have included a triumph, then a hurdle, then a setback.

Last Friday, Dukes returned ahead of schedule from right knee surgery. But he lasted all of two games and seven at-bats. Saturday, he pulled up lame in his final at-bat. What first was called a charley horse became a day-to-day calf injury. On Monday, Acta speculated that Dukes could rejoin the lineup Tuesday. On Wednesday, Dukes was lost for much of the remaining season -- an especially difficult loss, given that Washington's front office had hoped its 24-year-old could build on the momentum of a hot-hitting June.

"He just came back and it's too bad, because whenever he's been on the field he's been productive," Acta said.

Dukes declined to comment.

Dukes has said previously -- adamantly -- that he doesn't plan on injuries becoming a problem during his career. But this will be the third time he's been on the disabled list this season with an injury to his right leg. On Opening Day, he injured his right hamstring. He then rejoined the Nationals in early May, transforming himself from a liability at the plate into a No. 3 hitter. But then, in Cincinnati on July 5, he tore tendons in his right knee while chasing a ball in the gap.

Mock on Way Up

With Dukes headed to the disabled list, the Nationals will recall pitcher Garrett Mock from Class AAA Columbus, expanding their bullpen during a span in which the team goes 20 games between days off. Even before Dukes's injury, Washington felt its bullpen needed a seventh pitcher. . . .

Wednesday's rainout won't cause a major shift in Washington's rotation. Jason Bergmann, as scheduled, will pitch the game that begins at 3:05 p.m. Odalis Pérez, who had planned to pitch Wednesday night, will start the second game. Pérez, the veteran, was given his pick of which game to start. Acta is uncertain if the doubleheader will force the Nationals to use a spot starter later this week, but if it does, the Nationals likely will use Mock.