Downs was held out of the Nationals' Grapefruit League lineup Thursday due to a contusion on his left hand, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Downs suffered the injury when he was struck by a pitch earlier this week, but X-rays came back negative for any fractures and he should be fine within the next day or two. The former Red Sox prospect is fighting for the final spot on Washington's bench.