Apparently Kearns has an elbow injury.
When reporters arrived in the Nationals' locker room around 10:20 a.m. ET on Sunday, right fielder Austin Kearns was in the starting lineup. But 30 minutes later, Kearns was scratched and Elijah Dukes was inserted.
Washington manager Manny Acta wouldn't say why he made the lineup change, but it was learned that Kearns has a right elbow injury. The severity of the injury and how long he will be out of action is unknown.
Kearns is having the toughest season of his career, hitting .187 with three home runs and 16 RBIs.
