(Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Just as one Nationals player has begun increasing his activity in his return from injury, another’s status was thrown further into doubt. Yunel Escobar plans to take his full batting practice on Saturday, the first time since suffering a mild left oblique strain. Escobar could play in his first spring training game, on the minor league side, as soon as Sunday if all goes well.  Escobar has been running, taking grounders for the past four days and hitting for two days. He said he hopes to go through his full normal routine on Friday. He has hit off a tee and hit soft toss but not yet tested his hurt oblique full batting practice.  Manager Matt Williams said batting practice will be the best chance to see how much Escobar has improved. Williams said Escobar reported feeling his oblique strain “a little” in his first swings after resting but that’s “part of the process to be back.” Escobar said the oblique strain “doesn’t bother me much at all. I don’t feel anything. I’m doing all the exercises now.”  At first, Escobar was to be shut down for 7-10 days with a grade one oblique strain — but that was two weeks ago. Escobar said the slower process has been welcome.  “We’ve been very cautious and very sure because this injury, even though it’s a grade one, if you don’t take care of it, it can get to grade two very fast and then you’ll miss a month and a half of the season,” Escobar said in Spanish. “It’s better to miss spring training. I hope to play like 10 games. Maybe three or four on the minor league side and then a week here with the big leaguers.”  If he plays in as many games as he hopes, Escobar said he may get between 40 to 50 at-bats, which is his normal spring training workload. He can get as many as four at-bats a game if he plays on the minor league side. The oblique isn’t bothering him now but he is cautious about proclaiming he will be ready for opening day.  “Practice isn’t the same as a game,” he said. “Right now I feel healthy. But I don’t know what’s going to happen as the games start and how I feel. I bet there won’t be any issues.”  Escobar, a lifelong shortstop, is playing second base full-time for the first time in his career and believes the twisting at the new position led to the injury. He may have missed two weeks of spring training games so far but he thinks there is enough time remaining to get used to playing with his new teammates in the infield.  “Spring training, you play and you get only five or six innings and we’re bored because we didn’t get a grounder our way,” he said. “The last week is when we start playing eight innings or full games. And that’s when we play every day. I think it’ll be enough time to play together.”  Nate McLouth, on the other hand, is still dealing with a sore right shoulder, which underwent surgery last summer to repair a torn lambrum. McLouth’s shoulder still bothers him when he throws. He is playing light catch but isn’t ready to return to game action. And because of it, McLouth’s availability for opening day is “in jeopardy,” Williams said. McLouth planned to be ready for opening day, perhaps as a replacement for Jayson Werth if he isn’t ready after his own offseason shoulder surgery.  “We haven’t been able to get [McLouth] out there for a number of at-bats and for a full spring, keeping in mind he’s coming off a pretty serious surgery,” Williams said. “It’s a little in jeopardy right now. We’ll continue to work him as if we’re trying to get him ready, depending on how he feels.”  Williams said McLouth’s shoulder soreness is “normal” and “it’s a long rehab given the extent of the damage in his shoulder and all of that. It takes some time.” McLouth could begin the season on the disabled list if he isn’t ready and still rehabbing his shoulder.  Werth is scheduled to play defense only in a minor league game for two to three innings in Viera on Friday. Werth has been progressing gradually from his return from offseason shoulder surgery and still hopes to be ready for opening day. But there’s a chance that neither Werth nor McLouth can man left field on opening day. This could improve the odds of players such as Tyler Moore and non-roster invitee Tony Gwynn Jr. of making the opening day roster. Michael A. Taylor is already expected to handle center field while Denard Span recovers from his core surgery. Gwynn, who has more major league experience than Taylor, could also play center.  If the many roster possibilities are confusing, it’s understable. There are many moving parts right now. More position player cuts during camp may not come until late because of the injuries and rehabbing starters. Anthony Rendon, recovering from a mild MCL sprain in his left knee, is doing weight-bearing exercises. The next step would be a heavy dose of hitting and throwing before a return to games. Rendon hasn’t played since March 9.  “With regard to all of those guys, I do believe Anthony will be ready [for opening day],” Williams said. “I do believe Yunel will be ready. And that will slot accordingly. You just never know. … If they do have a setback, we have to think about adjusting. That’s why everybody is getting so much playing time and making sure that everybody is prepared.  James Wagner joined the Post in August 2010 and, prior to covering the Nationals, covered high school sports across the region.  Continue reading 10 minutes left
Escobar is planning on playing in a minor league game by Monday. McLouth's surgically-repaired shoulder is still sore.