Laynce Nix went 3-for-8 and homered in his return to the Nationals' lineup on Friday.

Nix missed a couple of starts because of Achilles' tendon soreness. He was the DH tonight. It remains to be seen whether he'll start against left-hander John Danks tomorrow, but he should be back in there Sunday regardless.

Laynce Nix (Achilles) will serve as the designated hitter in Friday's game against the White Sox.

Nix delivered a pinch-hit walkoff sacrifice fly in Thursday's win over the Mariners, but hasn't started since Tuesday due to a sore right Achilles' heel. He'll bat cleanup Friday against right-hander Edwin Jackson.

Laynce Nix (Achilles) expects to return to the starting lineup Friday against the White Sox.

Nix is out of the lineup for the second straight day Thursday with a sore right Achilles' heel, but is available to pinch-hit. It's possible he could be eased back into the lineup as the designated hitter, though Nationals manager Jim Riggleman wants to get Matt Stairs in the lineup.

Laynce Nix (Achilles) plans to return to the lineup Thursday.

Nix left Tuesday's game and is not starting Wednesday due to an Achilles injury that's bothered him for a couple months. "It's really sore right now," Nix said. "I've been doing a few things recently to make it better. It's sort of nagging me, but I think it is something that will eventually go away. ... I'm planning on playing (Thursday)." The Nats started Jerry Hairston Jr. in left field Wednesday.

Laynce Nix (Achilles) will sit out Wednesday's game.

Nix aggravated an Achilles injury Tuesday that he said has bothered him for a couple months. "I don't want to push it at this point," Nix said. "It's nothing terrible. It's just something that - for whatever reason - gets tight at certain times and uncomfortable. I'm not too concerned about it." He's considered day-to-day.

Laynce Nix hit a solo homer off Roy Halladay in the loss to the Phillies on Monday.

Nix is too prone to swinging at bad pitches to keep this up, but he's been outstanding for the Nationals so far. He's up to eight homers in 118 at-bats, and he's batting .305.

Laynce Nix is starting in left field Friday for the fourth straight game.

Nix's hot bat has turned left field into a platoon, at the very least, and it appears that he has a chance to wrestle the job away from Mike Morse altogether. He's batting .282/.301/.507 with four homers on the year, which includes a 5-for-13 mark with a homer and four RBI over the last three games. Nix could continue to provide worthwhile production for NL-only leaguers.

Laynce Nix is expected to remain in the starting lineup as long as he keeps hitting.

Nix is batting .284/.294/.507 with four home runs on the year, and he had a three-run homer Tuesday and a three-hit game Wednesday. This means less time for Mike Morse, who is batting just .238 on the year.

Laynce Nix has earned a roster spot.

Nix posted a decent .769 OPS in the Grapefruit League this spring to win himself a backup corner outfield role.

The Astros want to add a left-handed bat off the bench and are interested in the Nationals' Laynce Nix.

It's puzzling as to why they'd suddenly have interest in him when they had until February to sign him. Nevertheless, Nix reportedly has only an outside shot of winning an Opening Day roster spot for the Nats, so the Astros could acquire him for very little or wait and see if he gets cut. Incidentally, Nix is also a Houston native.

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman conceded Sunday that Laynce Nix faces an uphill battle to make the Opening Day roster.

Nix has been a solid bench player and occasional starter the last couple years for the Reds, but the Nats simply have too many outfielders ahead of him in the pecking order right now. Matt Stairs is a lock to make the squad as the top pinch-hitter, which hurts Nix.

Nationals signed OF Laynce Nix to a minor league contract.

He'll also get an invite to spring training. Nix, 30, batted .291/.350/.455 with four home runs and 18 RBI over 182 plate appearances with the Reds last season. He has the reputation as a solid defender and could be a useful left-handed bat off the bench.

The Reds haven't had any recent contact with free agent outfielder Laynce Nix.

"We thought he had signed with Seattle," said Reds general manager Walt Jocketty. "But I guess he hasn't." It was reported during the Winter Meetings that the Mariners had offered Nix a contract, but there haven't been any recent developments. We expect business to pick up now that the holidays are over. Nix, 30, batted .291/.350/.455 with four home runs and 18 RBI over 165 at-bats with the Reds last season.

A source tells John Hickey of AOL Fanhouse that the Mariners have offered a contract to Laynce Nix.

Nix, 30, batted .291/.350/.455 with four home runs and 18 RBI over 165 at-bats with the Reds this past season, primarily as an extra outfielder and left-handed bat off the bench. Assuming they won't overpay him like they will Miguel Olivo, this could be a nice low-key move.

Laynce Nix has elected to become a free agent.

Nix became a free agent after refusing an outright assignment to the minor leagues. The 30-year-old outfielder missed about a month this past season due to a left ankle injury, but batted .291/.350/.455 with four home runs and 18 RBI over 165 at-bats. He should have a relatively easy time finding a job as a left-handed power bat off the bench.

Laynce Nix will start in left field for Game 2 of the NLDS against the Phillies on Friday.

Nix missed about a month due to a sprained left ankle, but returned to play five games before the end of the regular season. He is 9-for-17 (.529) with two homers and four RBI against Game 2 starter Roy Oswalt during his career.

Laynce Nix (ankle) is back in the starting lineup Wednesday.

The Reds are resting most of their regulars after clinching the NL Central, but Nix's inclusion in the lineup is significant. Hobbled by a sprained left ankle, this is his first start since August 23. If he can prove himself healthy, he has a legitimate shot to make the postseason roster.

Reds manager Dusty Baker said that Laynce Nix still is not 100 percent from a sprained left ankle.

"He's not running well enough to run the bases or play the outfield," said Baker. "He doesn't have that big limp he had before, but he's still not 100 percent. He's a big part of our team. We miss him, especially with Edmonds being down too. I'd like to get one of them back hopefully or both." Nix has logged only one at-bat since being activated from the disabled list last week and it doesn't sound like he's making much progress. If Nix and Edmonds aren't ready for the postseason, it's possible that Yonder Alonso and either Juan Francisco or Chris Valaika will make the roster, instead.

Reds activated OF Laynce Nix from the 15-day disabled list.

Nix has taken several rounds of batting practice and has been cleared to run. He battled a sprained ankle for the last couple of weeks.

Laynce Nix (ankle) took batting practice Monday.

Nix hasn't been able to run, though, and is still at least a week from returning to the Reds' bench. He's been on the disabled list since August 26.