Turner ready to play daily, Difo ready for new role (we're underway)

Trea Turner could have stayed on rehab in the minors, taking more at-bats in a low-pressure situation and finding his groove before returning to the Nationals lineup. But his fractured right wrist has healed, his body feels equipped to play every day at the big league level and he believes he's ready to return after a stint on the disabled list of exactly 60 days.

"That's the one thing I wanted to do: I wanted to get back here as fast as I could, because I wanted to get those at-bats against this competition and in this setting," Turner said. "I think I'm ready for it, and I think I'm ready to help my team. We've got to get ready for that late push."

Which is why Turner is back in the Nationals lineup for tonight's game against the Marlins, back in his familiar leadoff spot and starting at shortstop for the first time since he was struck by a fastball in his wrist on June 29.

This was the first day Turner was eligible to come off the 60-day DL. To make room for him on both the 25-man and 40-man rosters, the Nationals optioned infielder Adrián Sanchez to Triple-A Syracuse and transferred outfielder Ryan Raburn to the 60-day DL.

Turner wound up playing in seven rehab games for Syracuse and Single-A Potomac. The numbers - 2-for-21, one walk, seven strikeouts - weren't great, but he insists he felt fine throughout the process and is confident he's ready for big league action.

"Just because you played good or bad one day doesn't mean you're going to play good or bad the next," he said. "I could go out there and go 4-for-4, 0-for-4. Nobody knows. I don't know. But health-wise, I feel great. I feel ready to play nine innings every day and give my team the effort that I did early in the year."

Turner said he's "kind of surprised" his wrist has felt as strong as it has, knowing that players who come back from such fractures often lose some strength. His legs, meanwhile, are fresh after a two-month layoff, and that could pay dividends come October when he doesn't have as much mileage on those legs as others who have played the full season.

The Nationals will happily take their dynamic leadoff man back, not only for the production he provides but the domino effect he has on others in the lineup.

"No. 1, he gives you speed," manager Dusty Baker said. "And he gives you the threat of speed. And the threat of speed will give him better pitches, and once he gets on base, the threat of speed will get the other guys behind him better pitches. Anytime a pitcher has to worry about Trea and the batter, they're splitting their concentration."

Turner's return does bump Wilmer Difo from the starting shortstop role, a role he thrived in over the last two months. Difo won't be disappearing altogether, though; Baker intends to keep finding ways to keep him in the lineup and tonight will give him his first career start in right field.

"I want to see what we have," Baker said, pointing out he plans to use the season's final 33 games to experiment with a few players in different roles.

Difo, who hit .339 with a .388 on-base percentage and .849 OPS while impressing in the field with Turner out, said he's ready to play wherever Baker needs him.

"I'm very happy, excited that I was able to fill in and play so well," he said through interpreter Octavio Martinez. "It's one of those unfortunate events that you don't want anybody getting hurt at any position, but I was very happy to fill in and help the team so much. Hopefully I continue helping the team down the road. That's what I'm here for: to do my job."

Difo's presence off the bench will be magnified down the stretch and into October because veteran infielder Stephen Drew may not be able to return to play this season. Drew, who has been on the disabled list since July 26 with an abdominal strain but on Monday was transferred to the 60-day DL. Drew is dealing with a separate medical issue, Baker said.

"I can't really divulge what it is, but's it not really healing," Baker said. "It was a prior injury; it was years ago. And the thought was that he might not be ready to come back during the season or maybe even for the playoffs. He might need to have a procedure done."

Other injury updates ...

* Bryce Harper is "improving," according to Baker. The outfielder, who suffered a significant bone bruise in his left knee on Aug. 12, is walking without a limp and has been doing exercises, though nothing on the field and nothing baseball related yet.

* Ryan Madson is scheduled to rejoin the club Thursday in Milwaukee, at which point he'll be re-evaluated. The reliever, who has a sprained right index finger, has been away from the club during this homestand.

Update: The start of tonight's game will be delayed. A 7:30 p.m. start is expected.

Update II: The game started at 7:31 p.m. following a 26-minute rain delay