PHOENIX -- The Nationals will be without one of their Trade Deadline acquisitions for at least the rest of their current nine-game road trip.

On Sunday, left-handed reliever Roenis Elias was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. Veteran infielder Howie Kendrick also went on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain, while the Nats selected the contract of right-hander Javy Guerra from Triple-A Fresno and recalled outfielder Andrew Stevenson from Double-A Harrisburg.

Elias, who was acquired in a trade from the Mariners on Wednesday, sustained his injury during his Nationals debut in Friday’s game vs. the D-backs. After retiring the two batters he faced in the sixth, he felt his leg cramp while running to first base during a rare hitting appearance in the bottom of the inning.

Washington manager Dave Martinez is optimistic that Elias will be ready to return once his minimum stay on the injured list is complete.

“He said he felt a little better, but I’ve said this before when these guys get hurt, I want them to be 100 percent when they get back,” Martinez said. “The great thing about it is we have him, he’s ours. In seven, eight days, when he’s able to come off the [IL], he’ll be ready to go again.”

Martinez is also hoping Kendrick won’t be out long. The infielder was a late scratch for Friday’s game with a leg cramp, and although he did physical activity prior to Saturday’s game, the Nats decided to take precaution.

“Rather than pushing it, because he has had issues before with his hamstring, I want to be safe, and I’d rather him miss 10 days than miss two months,” Martinez said. “He went out, took ground balls, ran at about 70 percent [on Saturday]. And we just had a great conversation and I told him, 'I’d rather not push it.'”

Kendrick is hitting .316 with 12 homers and 48 RBIs in 88 games this season.

When the Nationals acquired Elias, Hunter Strickland and Daniel Hudson to strengthen their bullpen on Wednesday, Guerra was designated for assignment, so he could have opted to become a free agent. Instead, Guerra decided to remain in the organization, and he’s now back in Washington’s bullpen.

Guerra has a 4.91 ERA in 34 appearances between the Blue Jays and Nats this season.

“When these guys are able to become free agents, we’re not going to deter them from going to play for another team in the big leagues, it’s their choice,” Martinez said. “Selfishly, did I want him to stay with us? Absolutely. And for good reason, here he is.”

Stevenson was recalled by the Nats for the third time this season. He went 4-for-14 (.286) over 12 games in his first two stints in the Majors this year.

Scherzer update

Right-handed ace Max Scherzer (mild upper back strain) continues to progress, Martinez said. On Saturday, Scherzer threw 40 pitches from 70 feet, but he has yet to throw off a mound.

“Every day is a step forward, so we want to make sure he continues to do that,” Martinez said. “He definitely wanted to ramp it up [Saturday], and we told him, ‘You’re not quite there yet.’ It’s frustrating. We all know Max, he wants to pitch every day if he could. But he’s got to be smart, and we’ve got to be smart about it.”