Anderson exits game, X-rays on elbow negative

WASHINGTON -- Used to scouring the Marlins' notoriously vast outfield, Brian Anderson was reminded Tuesday night that not all outfields are created equal.

Anderson was removed from Miami's series-opening 3-2 loss to Washington at Nationals Park in the second inning with a right elbow contusion after he crashed into the right-center wall while trying to make a play on Juan Soto's two-run homer in the first. Anderson was replaced by Yadiel Rivera.

Luckily for the Marlins, X-rays came back negative. Anderson hopes to be good to go for Wednesday's rematch after he's re-evaluated in the morning.

"Too late now, but [I have to] understand there is not quite as much room in right-center as there is in our place," Anderson said. "[The] wall just came up on me and kind of hit my elbow and aggravated that nerve a little bit."

Anderson tried to throw between innings, but "he couldn't really throw without shooting it down," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. Anderson and the training staff did not want to risk it, so he sat out the remainder of the game.

"Not too concerned," Mattingly said. "They X-rayed it and it looked good. They were worried about a little chip or something like that. He felt like his fingers went numb. ... He must have banged on that nerve a little bit. Hopefully, he'll be OK tomorrow. We're pretty optimistic right now."

"There's not big-time damage in there," Anderson said, adding he felt all right after the game. "I was probably able to do everything except for throw, but I didn't want to chance it. We'll see tomorrow, and hopefully the swelling will go down and [it will] feel a lot better."

The team ironman, Anderson, 26, has appeared in all but one game in 2019 and appeared in 156 in '18. So far this season, he is slashing .254/.338/.427 with a .765 OPS. Anderson has 11 homers and 38 RBIs.