Rick Ankiel blasted a grand slam in Tuesday's victory over the Braves.

It was his only hit in five at-bats. Ankiel has three home runs in his last two games, both times batting leadoff. He entered Monday having hit just three bombs in 207 at-bats. There's little reason to think that the last few days portends any sort of power barrage is forthcoming from the 32-year-old outfielder.

Rick Ankiel hit a pinch-hit home run in Saturday's loss to the Pirates.

Ankiel was just activated from the disabled list Friday. Roger Bernadina emerged as the regular center fielder during his absence, so the only way he should get regular playing time is if Laynce Nix's sore right Achilles' tendon continues to be an issue.

Nationals activated OF Rick Ankiel from the 15-day disabled list.

Ankiel missed just over the minimum amount of time on the disabled list with an oblique injury. He'll return to an ugly .204/.271/.276 batting line and we can only hope he doesn't take too much playing time away from Roger Bernadina.

Rick Ankiel has yet to swing a bat since suffering an intercostal strain in Wednesday's game.

Ankiel isn't expected to be available to play until at least Tuesday, and if he doesn't make strides in his improvement soon, the disabled list will become likely. It would be his second trip there this season, as he missed most of May with a sprained wrist.

Although he's still considered day-to-day, Rick Ankiel (intercostal strain) isn't expected to be available to play until Tuesday.

No surprise there. There's still a pretty good possibility that he'll wind up on the disabled list, as an intercostal strain shouldn't be messed around with, especially for someone as injury-prone as Ankiel. Roger Bernadina will be the Nats' center fielder over the weekend.

Rick Ankiel (intercostal strain) will not play Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Ankiel left Tuesday's game with a strained left intercostal muscle and is currently listed as day-to-day. Roger Bernadina will likely make the start in center field Wednesday against right-hander Kyle McClellan.

Rick Ankiel left Tuesday's game in the second inning with a strained left intercostal muscle.

The Nationals are calling him day-to-day for the time being, but a strained intercostal muscle is certainly something that could land him on the disabled list. He was replaced in the lineup by Roger Bernadina.

Rick Ankiel went hitless in Friday's loss and is just 2-for-22 since coming off the DL.

The Nationals didn't want to take away Ankiel's job due to injury; Jim Riggleman is too old school for that (seriously, watch the commercials). That Ankiel was awful before getting hurt simply wasn't enough of an excuse. We'd love to see him bounce back and hit 20 homers for the Nationals the rest of the way, but there's just nothing here to suggest he'll be any good anytime soon.

Nationals activated OF Rick Ankiel from the 15-day disabled list.

Ankiel has been out since early this month with a right wrist sprain. He will not start against the Brewers on Tuesday, according to William Ladson of MLB.com. With Mike Morse shifting to first base to cover for the injured Adam LaRoche and Roger Bernadina expected to remain the team's everyday center fielder, Ankiel could find playing time in left field for the next few weeks while LaRoche is shelved.

William Ladson of MLB.com expects the Nationals to activate Rick Ankiel from the disabled list once Adam LaRoche is put on the DL.

Ankiel has been in Florida to rehab at extended spring training but was assigned to Double-A Harrisburg on a rehab assignment on Monday. With Mike Morse shifting to first to cover for LaRoche and Roger Bernadina expected to remain the team's everyday center fielder, Ankiel could find playing time in left field while LaRoche is shelved.

Rick Ankiel (wrist) took batting practice Monday.

He's expected to take batting practice again Tuesday before going out on a minor league rehab assignment. Roger Bernadina and Laynce Nix are both playing well right now, so he might find himself on the bench once he's ready to return.

Rich Ankiel (hand) is out of the Nationals' starting lineup again on Thursday night.

Ankiel hasn't played since Monday because of a jammed right wrist and hand. The Nationals are hoping that he'll feel well enough to start Friday's game.

Rick Ankiel (hand) is again out of the Nationals' lineup Wednesday against the Phillies.

Ankiel jammed his right hand and wrist a couple of times Monday while trying to make diving catches in the outfield. He won't need an MRI but has now missed two straight games. "It's a nagging thing," Nats manager Jim Riggleman said Wednesday. "He's just not real comfortable going out, taking a lot of batting practice right now or anything like that. We're going to shut it down here for tonight."

Rick Ankiel (hand) is out of Tuesday's lineup against the Phillies.

Ankiel indeed hurt his right hand while attempting to make two diving catches in the outfield during Monday's game against the Giants. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said Ankiel could have played Tuesday, but that the trainers suggested he take the day off. It's still possible he could be used in a pinch-hitting situation. Jerry Hairston Jr. will make the start in center field and bat sixth against left-hander Cole Hamels.

Rick Ankiel was spotted wearing an ice wrap around his right hand after Monday's game.

Ankiel landed awkwardly on the hand twice on Monday night while attempting to make diving catches in the outfield. The Nationals believe that he's going to be fine, but they may hold him out of Tuesday's lineup just to be safe. Slick Rick is batting .221/.302/.288 with one home run across 118 plate appearances this season.

Rick Ankiel doubled and picked up his sixth RBI in a Nationals loss to the Mets on Wednesday.

However, the double was his only hit of the night, and his average now rests at .212 through 85 at-bats. Receiving far too much playing time in the Nationals outfield, it's likely only a matter of time before Ankiel is relegated to the bench.

Rick Ankiel went 2-for-4 with a run scored, RBI and stolen base as the Nationals dropped the second game of a double-header to the Cardinals on Wednesday.

A nice game for Ankiel in his former city. Ankiel entered today hitting just .211, but collected three total hits in the double-header, bumping his average to .231. He's not an option in mixed leagues, but you could do worse in NL-only formats.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Nationals are seeking an upgrade over Rick Ankiel for center field.

The Nationals traded Nyjer Morgan to the Brewers at the end of spring training and while they certainly had their reasons at the time, Ankiel just doesn't profile as an everyday player. Roger Bernadina is a possibility, but the Nationals aren't convinced that he can play center field. Meanwhile, Jerry Hairston Jr. is off to a slow start with the bat. There's nothing out there to suggest that the teams are actually talking, but Rosenthal writes that "in a perfect world," the Nationals would be able to acquire Rays center fielder B.J. Upton, who comes from the same part of Virginia as Ryan Zimmerman.

Rick Ankiel clubbed a two-run homer and drove in three runs in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Braves.

Ankiel connected for a two-run blast off Tommy Hanson in the bottom of the third inning and added a sacrifice fly for some insurance in the bottom of the eighth inning. The 32-year-old still has some pop left, but he has major holes in his swing and is below average defensively in center field. We doubt he lasts the whole season there for the Nationals.

Sources tell Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that the Nationals are expected to name Rick Ankiel as their starting center fielder.

According to Kilgore, the Nationals are hoping that improved health and his connection with hitting coach Rick Eckstein will return him to his 2008 form, when he hit 25 homers as a member of the Cardinals. Let's just say we're not so optimistic. The 31-year-old has a .232 batting average and .298 on-base percentage over the past two seasons. If the Nats name Ankiel the starter, look for Nyjer Morgan to be sent to the minor leagues.