Right-hander Drew Storen broke his right thumb slamming the lock box in his locker in frustration Wednesday after giving up the go-ahead homer to Yoenis Cespedes in the eighth inning, helping the NL East-leading New York Mets complete a three-game sweep.
Nationals manager Matt Williams said Saturday the former closer would likely miss the rest of the season.
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Washington didn't learn of the injury until Storen was unable to throw Friday in Miami. The reliever then told the team what happened, and an X-ray revealed the extent of the injury, Williams said.
Storen flew back to Washington on Saturday to be examined by a hand specialist.
The reliever's reaction to the injury?
"Regretful that it happened," Williams said, "and a little bit embarrassed about it, of course. He's a competitor, and he was frustrated and made a mistake."
Like his teammates, Storen has struggled lately. He walked three batters Tuesday when the Nationals blew a six-run lead against the Mets, who padded their cushion in the NL East with the sweep.
Storen is 2-2 with a 3.44 ERA in 58 games.
"He's a big guy lost for us, so some other guys will have to step in and do that job," Williams said. "It gets guys in some different roles for sure."