Nationals' Strasburg to throw batting practice Friday

WASHINGTON (AP) Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to throw batting practice Friday as the Nationals star comes back from a strained left oblique.

Manager Matt Williams said Wednesday that the right-hander will accompany the team on its road trip that begins Thursday in Pittsburgh. Strasburg threw his first bullpen session Tuesday since going on the disabled list July 5 and felt good afterward.

Williams also says that injured left fielder Jayson Werth, infielder Anthony Rendon and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman won't return against the Pirates this weekend.

Werth has been sidelined since May 15 with a fractured left wrist. He played nine innings in a rehab game Tuesday. Rendon has been out since June 24 with a strained quadriceps. He had five at-bats during his rehab assignment Tuesday.

An MRI of David Carpenter's injured right shoulder was negative, but the reliever had an anti-inflammatory injection that will keep him from throwing for two or three days. He went on the disabled list July 17.