BALTIMORE — The Nationals placed Denard Span on the disabled list and Jordan Zimmermann on the paternity leave list Friday afternoon, part of a flurry of roster moves before the start of their weekend series against the Orioles.
Infielder Wilmer Difo was recalled from Class AA Harrisburg to take Span’s roster spot and give the Nationals another position player this weekend. Reliever Aaron Barrett, meanwhile, was activated off the DL after missing 24 games with a right biceps strain, and will take Zimmermann’s roster spot for now.
Span’s placement on the 15-day DL — the team officially says he has back tightness — had been surmised for several days.