WASHINGTON (AP) -An MRI exam on Washington Nationals outfielder Austin Kearns’ sore right elbow Tuesday showed no tear or other serious problem.
Kearns, who missed his third straight game Tuesday against Philadelphia, said the test showed his elbow is “fine.”
He’s struggled all season, and is batting .187 with three homers and 16 RBIs.
Nationals manager Manny Acta said he expects Kearns to miss a few more days as he waits for the elbow to heal. Kearns did not take batting practice, and Acta said his injury would be re-evaluated Wednesday.
“We’re going to try and give him the day completely off today – not swing the bat or anything,” Acta said Tuesday. “We’re anticipating him to be out a couple of days until that calms down.”
Washington catcher Johnny Estrada, on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow injury, was heartened by his own medical report.
Estrada, back in Washington after being examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., had been worried there was a problem with a ligament in his elbow. Instead, he said the examination showed the problem was his ulnar nerve.
“We already knew that, and that’s all I was hoping it was,” Estrada said. “So that gave me some peace of mind.”
Estrada said he’s hoping to return within a month, although his return behind the plate may be gradual. He had surgery on the elbow in the offseason, and he said his current problem may stem from rushing back.
“I tried to come out of the gates in spring training like I was 100 percent – and I was fooling myself,” he said.
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