Nationals' manager Davey Johnson said Wednesday that he won't push Michael Morse (lat) and Adam LaRoche (ankle, shoulder) to be ready for Opening Day. Morse is sidelined with a lat strain while LaRoche is coming back from shoulder surgery and dealing with an ankle injury. Both players are expected to resume baseball activities on Sunday, but Johnson plans to be extra cautious. "I'm going to monitor real close and I'm not going to push them to get them ready for opening day if they think that'd be a setback," said Johnson.

Updating an earlier item, Michael Morse (lat) is not expected to play in a Grapefruit League game for at least a week. An earlier report said Morse had been shut down from baseball activities entirely, which was much more ominous. It's still not a good sign that his progress from a lat strain has come along so slowly, especially given his extensive prior injury history. But, an MRI Saturday showed no additional damage, so it does appear that Morse can still be ready by Opening Day if he doesn't have any setbacks.

Michael Morse (lat) will not be allowed to perform baseball activities for at least a week. An MRI Saturday showed that Morse's lat strain had no further damage, but he's evidently still feeling some pain, so the Nationals will shut him down and hope for the best. Though the team hasn't expressed any concern that Morse might not be ready for Opening Day, it's obviously discouraging that the injury has dragged on this long. Xavier Nady has been signed as insurance for both Morse and Adam LaRoche.

An MRI on Michael Morse's lat strain showed no further damage. The Nationals aren't concerned with the injury and no further tests are scheduled. Morse will continue treatment this week and be allowed to hit on the minor league side of camp.

Updating a previous item, Michael Morse (lat strain) did not take at-bats in a minor league game on Wednesday. It was previously reported that Morse went over to the minor league side for 6-8 at-bats, but that apparently didn't happen. Still, the Nationals aren't concerned about his lat right strain and no further tests are scheduled.

Michael Morse will not be in Wednesday's lineup as previously scheduled. Morse was originally expected to serve as the Nationals' DH for the third straight day, but instead he'll take some at-bats during an intrasqaud game over on the minor league side. The 29-year-old is just getting over a right lat strain, so the Nats are simply easing him back into the lineup.

Michael Morse (lat strain) felt some lingering discomfort Monday while playing long toss. Morse is serving as the Nationals' designated hitter in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game as a precautionary measure. He should be 100 percent by Opening Day.

Michael Morse (lat strain) is serving as the Nationals' DH on Monday against the Cardinals. Morse suffered a right lat strain early last week. But he was given a cortisone shot Saturday that has helped ease some of the discomfort and should be back in the outfield within the next few games. The 29-year-old is 1-for-2 with a walk thus far in Grapefruit League play.

Michael Morse (lat strain) received a cortisone shot Saturday and will be shut down for a couple days. The Nats have pushed back Morse's appearance in minor league games a couple times, but manager Davey Johnson contends that the outfielder is "right on track." He may be recovering a little slower than expected, but clearly the team isn't too concerned, so we're not, either.

Michael Morse (lat strain) is hoping to play in a minor league game by Sunday. He was originally supposed to start playing in minor league games Friday, but that schedule has been pushed back a couple days. Morse was able to shag flies and take batting practice Friday but is still not throwing. He's hoping to begin a throwing program Saturday.