Ryan Zimmerman making progress, still awaiting clearance

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman continues to make progress from a strained hamstring, but he still has not been cleared to participate in baseball activities, reports MLB.com Friday.

Zimmerman has been able to increase his workload as far as running goes, but has still been limited to running on an anti-gravity treadmill that adjusts for 90 percent of his body weight. Manager Matt Williams told MLB.com he still is not sure when Zimmerman will be able to begin playing catch or swing a bat, as he still has to run on his full weight and get through agility drills.

"If he sidesteps one of them and gets hurt again, we're definitely going to lose him," Williams said. "We have to make sure that he accomplishes all the goals in front of him first and then we'll get to baseball stuff."

Zimmerman has been out since July 23 with a serious Grade 3 strain of his right hamstring.