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SAN FRANCISCO - Because of the rain at AT&T Park this morning and a few lingering concerns about the inflammation in his left shoulder, the Nationals held Scott Olsen back from throwing on Thursday morning, and manager Jim Riggleman said they don't know quite when the left-hander will get back to work after being put on the disabled list last Saturday.
"Talking to (trainer) Lee Kuntz, he said he would rather he didn't throw today," Riggleman said. "Both concerns (played into it) - the conditions and also, he just really doesn't feel that (Olsen's) feeling all that strong right now. He'd rather let him rest a little longer before he does throw."
Riggleman said it's too soon to tell whether Olsen will miss more than two scheduled starts (Saturday in San Diego and next Thursday in Houston), and called it more of a precaution than a setback. J.D. Martin will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to take Olsen's spot on Saturday, a source confirmed, but Riggleman said the Nationals won't know anything until he throws a couple times. He didn't think Olsen would need to go on a rehab assignment if he was only out 15 days, but said he probably would if the delay took any longer than that.
"It's just really based on him and what the medical staff says," Riggleman said. "Nobody can tell you, except yourself, as to when you should put the ball in there and get on the rubber and go."
Olsen would have been scheduled to throw a bullpen session today before his turn in the rotation came up on Saturday, which is why the Nationals were planning to have him go today after shutting him down from throwing for five days.
