Rendon hit by pitch on elbow; X-rays negative

MIAMI -- The Nationals appear to have dodged the worst possible injury scenarios for third baseman Anthony Rendon, who left in the third inning of Saturday’s 9-3 loss to the Marlins after getting hit in the left elbow by an errant pitch from Marlins starter Jose Urena.

Rendon had his elbow wrapped postgame and said it was still swollen, but X-rays taken after he left the game came back negative. He was not sure about his status for Sunday’s game, but it appears he will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list.

“I’m still breathing, so I’m doing all right,” said Rendon, the injury not robbing him of his sarcasm. ‘It’s just a little swollen. … I think just hopefully got to see if it’s less swollen tomorrow. I’m assuming it’s day by day and see how I feel in the morning. We have medicine and a big patch on it, hopefully it will subside.”

Rendon was in obvious discomfort at first base after getting hit by Urena’s 1-0 fastball in the top of the third, but he remained in the game to run the bases. But by the time he got to second base, he realized the elbow was not getting better.

Rendon would eventually score on a two-run single from Matt Adams, but when the Nationals took the field in the bottom of the inning, Howie Kendrick went out to third base.

“Obviously, it got tighter and tighter as the inning progressed,” Rendon said. “Once I knew I got to second base, it’s not getting better, it’s totally getting worse. So, I figured I was going to come out.”

The Nats can breathe a sigh of relief that it does not appear Rendon will miss much time because not only has he been their hottest hitter to start the year, he has been one of the best players in baseball. Through Saturday, he is batting .371/.451/.771 with six home runs while accumulating 1.3 Wins Above Replacement.

Rendon had also been in the midst of a career-best 17-game hitting streak, which came to an end after a lineout in the first inning on a ball with an 104.1 mph exit velocity, and then exiting the game after getting hit with a pitch.

But don’t expect Rendon to spend any time lamenting the loss of that streak.

“Seventeen games, is that a lot?” he said. “Who cares? What’s the record, 62, something like that? Who cares? It’s one month into the season, not even. It’s awesome. I’m getting hits. But at the same time, really don’t care.”