Nationals' Span will be shut down from rehab after suffering setback

Washington Nationals outfielder Denard Span can't seem to catch a break.

Having been sidelined since July 7 with back spasms, manager Matt Williams revealed Saturday that Span suffered a setback in his rehab this week and will be shut down for a couple days.

"He tried to push it this week, and he just couldn’t get there," manager Matt Williams told reporters. "So we have to take a couple steps back before we take that next step forward."

Williams added that the team hopes that Span will return this season, though that remains uncertain.

"We hope that he's back as quickly as possible," Williams said. "But something like this, you just don't know. Right now, it's important for us to get him feeling better and give it another try."

The team leader in hits in 2014, Span has been excellent when healthy this season. In 59 games, the 31-year-old is hitting .304/.367/.430 with five home runs, 15 doubles, and 11 stolen bases.