Nats' Lo Duca to go on disabled list with broken hand

Houston Astros' Kazuo Matsui, left, reacts after scoring the winning run on a single by teammate Carlos Lee as Washington Nationals catcher Wil Nieves (53) walks away during the ninth inning of a Major League baseball game Wednesday, May 7, 2008, in Houston. The Astros defeated the Nationals 4-3. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)

HOUSTON—Washington Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca will be placed on the 15-day disabled list on Friday with a broken right hand.

Lo Duca broke the fourth metacarpal bone in his hand while batting in the seventh inning against Houston on Wednesday night. He just came off the DL last Friday after he was hit by a pitch and bruised the same hand on April 13.

Nationals manager Manny Acta said Lo Duca could be out four to six weeks.

Lo Duca said he may have come back from the earlier injury too quickly.

"Obviously, it was there before," he said. "When we took the X-ray the first time, it might've been a little too swollen to see it. I gave it time, it was getting better, but the more work I put in, it was starting to get sorer and sorer."

Lo Duca signed a one-year contract with the Nationals in December after playing the last two seasons with the New York Mets. He's only played in 17 games this season and was wearing a temporary cast in the clubhouse on Thursday.

"It's disappointing, coming to a new team and not being able to play at all and not be able to play up to my ability," he said.

The Nationals also will place backup catcher Johnny Estrada on the DL with ulnar neuritis in his right elbow. Estrada hasn't played since April 30.

"He's not making any progress and his elbow is bothering him," Acta said. "He's going to see another doctor and we'll go from there."

Washington will call up catcher Jesus Flores and outfielder Elijah Dukes from Triple-A Columbus on Friday to fill the roster spots. Dukes is finishing a rehab stint after injuring his right hamstring.

Wil Nieves was the starting catcher for the Nationals against Houston on Thursday night.