With the Nationals' offense struggling to score runs, part of the issue has been the power numbers from the three returning hitters: Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth. Rendon hit one home run in New York. Zimmerman has crushed two since his return. But Werth hasn't hit a home run since May 13. Manager Matt Williams was asked during Friday's pregame session with the media how he thinks Werth is coming along in returning to full form offensively. He said the patience Werth is showing by taking some at-bats 10 to 13 pitches deep is a good sign.

"If you look at Jayson, generally, we have to look at it from a spring training perspective because he's been out so long. It takes him awhile to get going in spring training, it always does," Williams said. "I like the way he's seeing the baseball. The results haven't quite been there. Yesterday he hit a ball really good to right field which is a good sign." Werth had Monday off and then returned Tuesday with a double, a run and an RBI fielder's choice. Wednesday he had a sacrifice fly to right field. Thursday he had a strong lineout to center field and a run scored. "He's getting on the heater, he's getting on the fastball better and that's where it starts for him," Williams said. "He can always pull back and adjust on the breaking ball and stay through that ball and hit it back through the middle. But if he's on the fastball then that's where we want him to be, that's where he wants to be. So the last couple of games have been more indicative of him having better timing and getting there." Williams said Werth is slower to return to form offensively, but he does see positive progress at the plate. And power isn't the only thing that Werth offers. "It takes him a little longer, generally than it would for Anthony (Rendon) or (Ryan Zimmerman) with all of his movement," Williams said. "He's getting there. It's coming. In the middle of our order he provides us a lot more than just power. I like where he's at right now. "I like the fact that his legs are good. He's able to get in there for multiple days in a row. We'll still have to be mindful of giving him some time off too but the more at-bats he gets the better he will be. "The home runs are not a concern for any of us at this point. It's about him feeling good at the plate." But the Nationals will need Werth's power numbers to increase a bit as the season surges to the final months as they attempt to catch the Mets. Bryce Harper cannot carry the power on his own.