"The Washington Nationals placed Iván Rodríguez on the 15-day disabled list Monday, meaning their veteran catcher will miss the entirety of the 10-game trip that starts Tuesday -- and will not be behind the plate on June 4, the likely first start for phenom Stephen Strasburg.

While their future Hall of Famer heals his lower back strain, Wil Nieves will toggle from steady backup to the Nationals' primary catcher. Replacing Rodríguez, 38, will be a difficult proposition for the Nationals, particularly on offense.

Rodríguez has hit .325 this year, first among National League catchers who have played at least 25 games, with a .351 on-base percentage, 9 doubles and 16 RBI. Nieves, a career .233 hitter, is 13 for 58 this season with no walks, three doubles and a homer.

Rodríguez, potentially an all-star, has spent no time on the disabled list since June 2002, a testament to his obsessive fitness regimen. Rodríguez works out every morning at 9:30 Monday through Friday. He has kept the same routine, done with the same personal trainer, for the past 15 years.

"I'm always keeping myself in good shape," Rodríguez said last week. "That's the most important thing about playing this game. You start making your lower back and your legs strong, you're going to be able to make it all the way into October."

Yet, lower back pain has besieged him all season. He experienced discomfort in the first week of the season, a symptom from a strange hotel bed. Rodríguez felt an occasional spasm, but the Nationals assumed Rodríguez had moved beyond his back pain. "