NL East Standings as of 8/12. via MLB.com

Washington Nationals

Jayson Werth rejoined the Nationals on Thursday (over a week ago) and the Nats have been winning with him since. Werth was moved up to the leadoff spot, and is hitting an insane .400 with a .500 on-base percentage.

Meanwhile, shortstop Ian Desmond took his first live swings during his rehab assignment, and manager Davey Johnson is antsy to have Desmond back in action.

Unfortunately, Chien-Ming Wang exited his Minor League rehab start with hip soreness on Tuesday night. His return to the Nats, which could have been as early as this past Saturday, is of course pushed back until he can make another rehab start.

Read more on the Nationals on Win For Teddy 

Atlanta Braves

Pitcher Tommy Hanson should rejoin the Braves rotation at the end of this week. He should make a Minor League rehab appearance on Sunday afternoon for Triple-A. He was placed on the DL on July 31 with lower back discomfort.

Catcher Brian McCann took three days of rest after a cortisone injection for his shoulder subluxation, which worsened with swinging the bat.

Jair Jurrens made his first rehab start in Triple-A since a groin strain landed him on the DL at the beginning of August.

Keep an eye on Atlanta at She Is Out Of Your League

New York Mets

Johan Santana returned from the disabled list to join the Mets on Saturday against the Braves. His ankle may have been healed by the time spent on the DL, but Johan was all shook up on the mound, and gave up eight runs and eight hits in 1 1/3 innings before exiting the game all-too-soon.

Lefty Tim Byrdak will undergo a rare shoulder surgery that will put a premature end to his season, but hopefully not his career.

R.A. Dickey, in hot pursuit of a 20-win season, should see more starts come September, should they not pose a threat to his health, as he chases for the Cy Young Award.

Keep up with the Mets at Mets & The Citi

Miami Marlins

Logan Morrison might not make it back onto the diamond this season, as it seems he will undergo a season-ending surgery to repair a tendon in his right knee. LoMo is hopeful that if he has the surgery in September, the four-to-six month rehab period might set him up in time for Spring Training,

Emilio Bonifacio reinjured his left thumb on Friday in the match against the Nats, but MRI revealed only a sprain, and Bonifacio is determined to emerge from the DL once more this season, possibly as soon as August 19.

Catch the Marlins news at A Fishy Situation

Philadelphia Phillies

Third base Placidio Polanco traveled with the Phillies on Sunday to Miami to join his team in workouts as he recovers from a back injury that sent him to the 15-day DL on July 23. Polanco will likely take a rehab assignment to take some at-bats before he hits the turf with the Phightins.

This season has not been kind to Philadelphia, but perhaps there is time to rejoice yet, as the Phils bullpen appears to be back in action, and even manager Charles Manuel believes that Ryan Howard’s big bat is due to return. But really, it might be overdue to instead set sights on 2013, because 2012, at times practically did resemble the end of the world for the Phillies.

Phollow the Phillies at View From Section 116