Nationals' Storen has more trouble with his elbow

Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen experienced pain in his right elbow after throwing a simulated game on Sunday, and he has been sent to Birmingham, Ala., to see Dr. James Andrew for an examination.

Manager Davey Johnson told reporters on Monday he thought Storen may have a bone chip in the elbow.

"He threw the ball pretty good, warmed up pretty good," Johnson said. "At the end of the day, he felt a little tenderness in his elbow. So we are going to send him over to Andrews and have him re-examined and see what is causing it. Hopefully, it's nothing serious, but it doesn't sound good to me."

Before the simulated game on Sunday, Storen had not pitched in a game since early March. The team initially said his problem was "typical arm soreness." Later the team said he would go on the disabled list with inflammation in his elbow but was expected back by the middle of April. That timetable seems optimistic now.

Henry Rodriguez and Brad Lidge will split the closer's role in Storen's absence. Storen had 43 saves and a 2.75 earned run average last season.