Nats' Zimmerman set to return vs. Braves

WASHINGTON -- Nationals manager Dusty Baker likes to wait one extra day when a position player tells him he is ready to be in the starting lineup.

That is the case involving Washington first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who felt he would be ready to play Monday against the Atlanta Braves.

Baker held him out of the series opener, but he hopes to have Zimmerman start on Tuesday against the Braves in the middle game of the three-game set.

Baker noted that veteran Atlanta knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (4-4, 4.73 ERA) is slated to start Tuesday against the Nationals and right-hander Joe Ross (3-2, 6.16).

"(Zimmerman) is doing better. He is doing a lot better," Baker said Monday. "I just decided to wait until…