Nationals put CF Ben Revere on DL; recall Matt den Dekker

ATLANTA (AP) Washington Nationals center fielder Ben Revere was placed on the disabled list on Wednesday after playing less than one full game for his new team.

The Nationals put Revere on the 15-day DL with a strained right oblique and recalled outfielder Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Syracuse before facing the Atlanta Braves.

Revere was scheduled for a MRI in Washington on Thursday.

The recovery period for an oblique injury can last longer than two weeks.

Manager Dusty Baker didn't offer a guess on the severity of Revere's injury, other than to say ''It didn't appear that he was going to be able to play within a week.''

Revere felt discomfort while swinging at a pitch Monday, when Washington beat Atlanta 4-3 in 10 innings. He started in center and led off on opening day but left the game after four innings, replaced by Michael A. Taylor.

Baker said he knew Revere was disappointed to land on the DL so early in his time with the team.

''I feel bad,'' Baker said. ''I can see it all over his face.''

Baker said after Monday's game he thought Revere was OK. Instead, the pain persisted and even became more severe following an off day on Tuesday.

''We thought that it wasn't as serious as it appeared, but he was more sore today than he was yesterday, even though he came in for treatment and stuff,'' Baker said, adding he didn't want to face a week or longer without a full roster.

''We just didn't think we could go short for a long period of time,'' he said.

Den Dekker was optioned to Syracuse as one of the Nationals' final cuts of spring training.

Taylor took Revere's spot in center field and as the leadoff hitter in Wednesday night's starting lineup.

The Nationals acquired Revere in a January trade that sent reliever Drew Storen to Toronto.

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AP freelance writer Amy Jinkner-Lloyd contributed to this report.